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D 



NED MYEKS; 



OK, 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 



BY J.>''FENIMORE COOPER. 



Thon unrelenting Past! 
Strong are the barriers round thy dark domain, 

And fetters sure and fast 
Hold all that eater thy nnbreatbing reign. 

BryanL 



NEW EDITIOSr. 




NEW YORK: 
RTRINGER AND T0WNSEN1> 



1857. 



. 06.7? 






NED MYERS. 



Entered, according to the Act of Congress, m the year 1843, by 

J. FENIMORE COOPER, 

(n the clcrk'fc office of the District Court of the United Slates for the 
Northern distnoi of New- York. 




i£ 



PREFACE. 

It is an old remark, that the life of any man, could 
the incidents be faithfully told, would possess interest 
and instruction for the general reader. The convic- 
tion of the perfect truth of this saying, has induced 
the writer to commit to paper, the vicissitudes, escapes, 
and opinions of one of his old shipmates, as a sure 
means of giving the public some just notions of the 
career of a common sailor. In connection with the 
amusement that many will find in following a foremast 
Jack in his perils and voyages, however, it is hoped 
that the experience and moral change of Myers may 
have a salutary influence on the minds of some of 
those whose fortunes have been, or are likely to be, 
cast in a mould similar to that of this old salt. 

As the reader will feel a natural desire to under- 
stand how far the editor can vouch for the truth of 
that which he has here written, and to be informed on 
the subject of the circumstances that have brought 
him acquainted with the individual whose adventures 
form the subject of this little work, as much shall be 
old as may be necessary to a proper understanding 
of these two points. 



IV PREFACE. 

First, then, as to the writer's own knowledge of the 
career of the subject of his present work. In the year 
1806, the editor, then a lad, fresh from Yale, and des- 
tined for the navy, made his first voyage in a mer- 
chantman, with a view to get some practical knowledge 
of his profession. This was the fashion of the day, 
though its utility, on the whole, may very well be 
questioned. The voyage was a long one, including 
some six or eight passages, and extending to near the 
close of the year 1807: On board the ship was Myers, 
an apprentice to the captain. Ned, as Myers was 
uniformly called, was a lad, as well as the writer ; 
and, as a matter of course, the intimacy of a ship 
existed between them. Ned, however, was the junior, 
and was not then compelled to face all the hardships 
and servitude that fell to the lot of the writer. 

Once, only, after the crew was broken up, did the 
writer and Ned actually see each other, and that only 
for a short time. This was in 1809. In 1833, they 
were, for half an hour, on board the same ship, with- 
out knowing the fact at the time, A few months 
since, Ned, rightly imagining that the author of the 
Pilot must be his old shipmate, wrote the former a 
letter to ascertain the truth. The correspondence 
produced a meeting, and the meeting a visit from Ned 
to the'editor. It was in consequence of the revala- 
tions made in this visit that the writer determined to 
produce the following work. 



PREFACE. V 

The writer has the utmost confidence in all the 
statements of Ned, so far as intention is concerned. 
Should he not be mistaken on some points, he is an 
exception to the great rule which governs the opinions 
and recollections of the rest of the human family. 
Still, nothing is related that the writer has any rea- 
sons for distrusting. In a few instances he has inter- 
posed his own greater knowledge of the world 
between Ned's more limited experience and the narra- 
tive; but, this has been done cautiously, and only in 
cases in which there can be little doubt that the nar- 
rator has been deceived by appearances, or misled by 
ignorance. The reader, however, is not to infer that 
Ned has no greater information than usually falls to 
the share of a foremast hand. This is far from being the 
case. When first known to the writer, -his knowledge 
was materially above that of the ordinary class of 
lads in his situation ; giving ample proof that he had 
held intercourse with persons of a condition in life, if 
not positively of the rank of gentlemen, of one that 
was not much below it. In a word* his intelligence 
on general subjects was such as might justly render 
him the subject of remark on board a ship. Although 
much of his after-life was thrown away, portions of it 
passed in improvement; leaving Ned, at this moment, 
a man of quick apprehension, considerable knowledge, 
and of singularly shrewd comments. If to this be 
1 * 



VI PREFACE. 



added tlie sound and accurate moral principles thai 
now appear to govern both his acts and his opinions, 
we find a man every way entitled to speak for him- 
self; the want of the habit of communicating his 
thoughts to the public, alone excepted. 

In this book, the writer has endeavoured to adhere 
as closely to the very language of his subject, as cir- 
cumstances will at all allow; and in many places he 
feels confident that no art of his own could, in any 
respect, improve it. 

It is probable that a good deal of distrust will exist 
on the subject of the individual whom Ned supposes 
to have been one of his godfathers. On this head the 
writer can only say, that the account which Myers 
has given in this work, is substantially the same as 
that which he. gave the editor nearly forty yoBj-s ago, 
at an age and under circumstances that forbid the 
idea of any intentional deception. The account 
is confirmed by his sister, who is the oldest of the 
two children, and who retains a distinct recollec- 
tion of the prince, as indeed does Ned himself The 
writer supposes these deserted orphans to have 
been born out of wedlock — though he has no direct 
proof to this effect — and there is nothing singular 
in the circumstance of a man of the highest rank, 
that of a sovereign excepted, appearing at the font in 
behalf of the child of a dependant. A member of the 



PREFACE. Vn 

royal family, indeed, might be expected to do this, to 
favour one widely separated from him by birth and 
station, sooner than to oblige a noble, who might pos- 
sibly presume on the condescension. 

It remains only to renew the declaration, that every 
part of this narrative is supposed to be true. The 
memory of Ned may occasionally fail him ; and, as 
lor his opinions, they doubtless are sometimes errone- 
ous ; but the writer has the fullest conviction that it 
IS the intention of the Old Salt to relate nothing that 
ne does not believe to have occurred, or to express an 
unjust sentiment. On the subject of his reformation, 
so far as " the tree is to be known by its fruits" it is 
entirely sincere ; the language, deportment, habits, 
and consistency of this well-meaning tar, being those 
of a cheerful and confiding Christian, without the 
smallest disposition to cant or exaggeration. In thi . 
particular, he is a living proof of the efficacy of faith, 
and of the power of the Holy Spirit to enlighten the 
darkest understanding, and to quicken the most 
apathetic conscience. 



NED MYERS. 



CHAPTER I. 

In consenting to lay before the world the experience of a 
common seaman, and, I may add, of one who has been such 
a sinner as the calling is only too apt to produce, I trust 
that no feeling of vanity has had an undue influence. 1 
love the seas ; and it is a pleasure to me to converse about 
them, and of the scenes I have witnessed, and of the hard- 
ships I have undergone on their bosom, in various parts of 
the world. Meeting with an old shipmate who is disposed 
to put into proper form the facts which I can give him, and 
believing that my narrative may be useful to some of those 
who follow the same pursuit as that in which I have been so 
.ong engaged, I see no evil in the course I am now taking, 
while I humbly trust it may be the means of effecting some 
little good. God grant that the pictures I shall feel bound 
to draw of my own past degradation and failings, contrasted 
as they must be with my present contentment and hopes, may 
induce some one, at least, of my readers to abandon the ex- 
cesses so common among seamen, and to turn their eyes in 
the direction of those great truths which are so powerful to 
reform, and so convincing when regarded with humility, and 
with a just understanding of our own weaknesses. 

I know nothing of my family, except through my own 
youthful recollections, and the accounts I have received from 
my sister. My father I slightly remember ; but of my mo- 
ther I retain no distinct-impressions. The latter must have 
died while I was very young. The former, I was in the 
habit of often seeing, until I reached my fifth or sixth year. 
He was a soldier, and belonged to the twenty-third regimen 
of foot, in the service of the King of Great Britain.* The 

* The writer left a blank for this regiment, and now inserts it from 
memory. It is probable hi' is wrong. 




10 NEDMYERS;OR, 

fourth son of this monarch, Prince Edward as he was then 
called, cr the Duke of Kent as he was afterwards styled, 
commanded the corps, and accompanied it to the British 
American colonies, where it was stationed for many years. 

I was born in Quebec, between the years 1792 and 1794* 
probably in 1793, Of the rank of my father in the regi 
ment, I am unable to speak, though I feel pretty confident 
he was a commissioned officer. He was much with the 
prince ; and I remember that, on parade, where I have often 
seen him, he was in the habit of passing frequently from the 
prince to the ranks — a circumstance that induces my old 
shipmate to think he may have been the adjutant. My 
father, I have always understood, was a laative of Hanover, 
and the son of a clergyman in that country. My mother, 
also, was said to be a German, though very uttle is now 
known of her by any of the family. She is described tome 
as living much alone, as being occupied in pursuits very dif- 
ferent from those of my father, and as being greatly averse 
to the life of a soldier. 

I was baptized in the Church of England, and, from 
earliest boyhood, have always been given to understand that 
His Royal Highness, Prince Edward, the father of Queen 
Victoria, stood for me at the font; Major Walker, of the 
same regiment, being the other god-father, and Mrs. Walker, 
his wife, my god-mother. My real names are Edward Robert 
Meyers ; those received in baptism having been given me 
by my two sponsors, after themselves. This christening, 
like my birth, occurred in Quebec. I have, however, 
called myself Edward, or Ned, Myers, ever since I took to 
the sea. 

Before I was old enough to receive impressions to be re- 
tained, the regiment removed to Halifax. My fatner accom- 
panied it ; and, of course, his two children, my sister Harriet 
and myself, were taken to Nova Scotia. Of the period of 
my life that was passed in Halifax, I retain tolerably distinct 
recollections; moreespecially of the later years. The prince 
and my father both remained with the regimedt for a con- 
siderable time ; though all quilted Halifax .several years 
before I left it myself. I remember Prince Ed-w ard perfectly 
well. He sometimes resided at a house called ihe Lodge, a 
little out of town ; and I was often taken out ti see him. He 



A LIFE BEFORE TUE MAST. 11 

also had a residence in town. He took a good deal of notice 
of me ; raising me in his arms, and kissing me. When ha 
passed our house, I would run to him ; and he would lead 
me through the streets himself. On more than one occasion, 
he led me off, and sent for the regimental tailor ; direct- 
ing suits of clothes to be made for me, after his own taste. 
He was a large man ; of commanding presence, and fre- 
quently wore a star on the breast of his coat. He was not 
then called the Duke of Kent, but Prince Edward, or The 
Prince. A lady lived with him at the Lodge ; but who she 
was, I do not know. 

At this time, my mother must have been dead; for oHier 
I retain no recollection whatever. I think, my father left 
HaUfax some time before the prince. Major Walker, too, 
went to England ; leaving Mrs. Walker in Nova Scotia, for 
some time. Whether my father went away with a part of 
the regiment to which he belonged, or not, I cannot say 
but I well remember a conversation between the prince, the 
major and Mrs. Walker, in which they spoke of the loss of 
a transport, and of Meyers's saving several men. This must 
have been at the time when my father quitted Nova Scotia ; 
to which province, I think, he never could have returned. 
Neither my sister, nor myself, ever saw him afterwards. 
We have understood that he was killed in battle ; though 
when, or where, we do not know. My old shipmate, the 
editor, however, thinks it must have been in Canada ; as 
letters were received from a friend in Quebec, after I had 
quitted Nova Scotia, inquiring after us children, and stating 
that the effects of my father were in that town, and ought to 
belong to us. This letter gave my sister the first account 
of his death ; though it was not addressed to her, but to 
those in whose care she had been left. This property was 
never recovered ; and my shipmate, who writes this account, 
thinks there may have been legal difficulties in the way. 

Previously to quitting the province of Nova Scotia, my 
father placed Harriet and myself in the house of a Mr. 
Marchinton, to live. This gentleman was a clergyman, 
who had no regular parish, but who preached in a chapel 
of his own. He sent us both to school, and otherwise took 
charge of us. I am not aware of the precise time when the 



12 NEDMYERS;OK, 

prince left Halifax, but it must have been when I was five 
or six years old — probably about the year 1798 or 1799.* 

From that time I continued at Mr. Marchinton's, attending 
school, and busied, as is usual with boys of that age, until 
the year 1805. I fear I was naturally disposed to idleness 
and self-indulgence, for I became restive and impatient under 
the restraints of the schoolmaster, and of the gentleman m 
whose family I had been left. I do not know that I had any 
just grounds of complaint against Mr. Marchinton ; but his 
rigorous discipline disgusted me; principally, I am now in- 
clined to believe, because it was not agreeable to me to be kept 
under any rigid moral restraint. I do not think I was very 
vicious ; and, I know, I was far from being of a captious 
temperament ; but I loved to be my own master ; and I par- 
ticularly disliked everything like religious government. Mr. 
Marchinton, moreover, kept me out of the streets ; and it was 
my disposition to be an idler, and at play. It is possible he 
may have been a little too severe for one of my tempera- 
ment ; though, I fear, nature gave me a roving and change- 
ful mind. 

At that time the English cruisers sent in many American 
vessels as prizes. Our house was near the water ; and i 
was greatly in the habit of strolling along the wharves, 
whenever an opportunity occurred ; Mr. Marchinton owning 
a good deal of property in that part of the town. The Cam- 
brian frigate had a midshipman, a little older than myself, 
who had been a schoolmate of mine. This lad, whose name 
was Bowen, was sent in as the nominal prize-master of a 
brig loaded with coffee ; and I no sooner learned the fact, 
'than I began to pay him visits. Young Bowen encouraged 
me greatly, in a wish that now arose within me, to become 
a sailor. I listened eagerly to the history of his adventures, 
and felt the usual boyish emulation. Mr. Marchinton seemed 
averse to my following the profession, and these visits be- 
came frequent and stealthy ; my wishes, most probably, 

* Edward, Duke of Kent, was born November 2, 1767,- and mada 
a peer April 23, 1799 ; when he was a httle turned of one-and-thirty. 
It is probable that this creation took place on his return to England ; 
after passing some six or eight years in America and the West Indies 
He served in the West Indies with great personal distinction, during 
his stay in this hemisphere. — Editor. 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 13 

increasing, in proportion as they seemed difficult of accom- 
plishment. 

I soon began to climb the rigging of the brig, ascending 
to the mast-heads. One day Mr. Marchinton saw me quite 
at the main-truck ; and, calling me down, I got a severe 
flogging for my dexterity and enterprise. It sometimes 
happens that punishment produces a result exactly opposite 
to that which was intended ; and so it turned out in the pre- 
sent instance. My desire to be a sailor increased in conse- 
quence of this very flogging; and I now began seriously to 
think of running away, in order to get to sea, as well as to 
escape a confinement on shore, that, to me, seemed unreason- 
able. Another prize, called the Amsterdam Packet, a Phila- 
delphia ship, had been sent in by, I believe, the Cleopatra, 
Sir Robert Laurie. On board this ship were two American 
lads, apprentices. With these boys I soon formed an inti- 
macy ; and their stories of the sea, and their accounts of the 
States, coupled with the restraints I fancied I endured, gave 
rise to a strong desire to see their country, as well as to 
become a sailor. They had little to do, and enjoyed great 
liberty, going and coming much as they pleased. This 
idleness seemed, to me, to form the summit of human happi- 
ness. I did not often dare to play truant ; and the school 
became odious to me. According to my recollections, this 
desire for a change must have existed near, or quite a 
twelvemonth ; being constantly fed by the arrival and de- 
parture of vessels directly before my eyes, ere J set about 
the concocting of a serious plan to escape. 

My project was put in execution in the summer of 1805, 
when I could not have been more than eleven years old, if, 
indeed, quite as old. I was in the market one day, and 
overheard some American seamen, who had been Ifrought 
in, conversing of a schooner that was on the point of leaving 
Halifax, for New York. This vessel belonged to North 
Carolina, and had been~ captured by the Driver, some time 
before, but had been liberated by a decision of the Admi- 
ralty Court. The men I overheard talking about her, in- 
tended taking their passages back to their own country in 
the craft. This seemed to me a good opportunity to effect 
my purpose, and I went from the market, itself, down to the 
schooner. The mate was on board alone, and I took coii 
2 



14 NEDMYERS;OR, 

rage, and asked him if he did not want to ship a boy. My 
dress and appearance were both against me, as I had never 
done any work, and was in the ordinary attire of a better 
class lad on shore. The mate began to laugh at me, and to 
joke me on my desire to go to sea, questioning me about 
my knowledge. I was willing to do anything ; but, per- 
ceiving that I made little impression, I resorted to bribery. 
Prince Edward had made me a present, before he left Hali- 
fax, of a beautiful little fowling-piece, which was in my own 
possession ; and I mentioned to the mate that I was the owner 
of such an article, and would give it to him if he would con- 
sent to secrete me in the schooner, and carry me to New 
York. This bait took, and I was told to bring the fowling- 
piece on board, and let the mate see it. That night I car- 
ried the bribe, as agreed on, to this man, who was perfectly 
satisfied with its appearance, and we struck a bargain on 
the spot. I then returned to the house, and collected a few 
of my clothes. I knew that my sister, Harriet, was making 
some shirts for me, and I stole into her room, and brought 
away two of them, which were all I could find. My ward- 
robe was not large when I left the house, and I had taken 
the precaution of carrying the articles out one at a time, and 
of secreting them in an empty cask in the yard. When I 
thought I had got clothes enough, I made them into a bundle, 
and carried them down to the schooner. The mate then 
cleared out a locker in the cabin, in which there were some 
potatoes, and told me I must make up my mind to pass a 
few hours in that narrow berth. Too thoughtless to raise 
any objections, I cheerfully consented, and took my leave 
of him with the understanding that I was to be on board, 
again, early in the morning. 

Before going to bed, I desired a black servant of Mr. 
Marchinton's to call me about day-break, as I desired to go 
out and pick berries. This was done, and I was up and 
dressed before any other member of the family was stirring. 
I lost no time, but quitted the house, and walked deliberately 
down to the schooner. No one was up on board of her, and 
I was obliged to give the mate a call, myself. This man 
now seemed disposed to draw back from his bargain, and ] 
had to use a good deal of persuasion before I could prevail 
on him to be as good as his word. He did not like to part 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 15 

with the fowling-piece, but seemed to think it would be fairly 
purchased, could he persuade me to run away. At length 
he yielded, and 1 got into the locker, where I was covered 
with potatoes. 

I was a good while in this uncomfortable situation, before 
there were any signs of the vessel's quitting the wharf. I 
began to grow heartily tired of the confinement, and the 
love of change revived within me in a new form. The po- 
tatoes were heavy for me to bear, and the confined air ren- 
dered my prison almost insupportable. I was on the point of 
coming out of prison, when the noise on deck gave me the 
comfortable assurance that the people had come on board, 
and that the schooner was about to sail. I could hear men 
conversing, and, after a period of time that seemed an age, 
I felt satisfied the schooner was fairly under way. I heard 
a hail from one of the forts as we passed down the harbour, 
and, not long after, the Driver, the very sloop of war that 
had sent the vessel in, rnet her, and quite naturally hailed 
her old prize, also. All this I heard in my prison, and it 
served to reconcile me to the confinement. As everything 
was right, the ship did not detain us, and we were permitted 
to proceed. 

It was noon before I was released. Going on deck, 1 
found that the schooner was at sea. Nothing of Halifax was 
visible but a tower or two, that were very familiar objects 
to me. I confess I now began to regret the step I had taken, 
and, could I have been landed, it is probable my roving dis- 
position would have received a salutary check. It was too 
late, however, and I was compelled to continue in the thorny 
and difficult path on which I had so thoughtlessly entered. 
I often look back to this moment, and try to imagine what 
might have been my fortunes, had I never taken this unlucky 
step. What the prince might have done for me, it is impos- 
sible to say ; though I think it probable that, after the death 
of my father, I should have been forgotten, as seems to have 
been the case with my sister, who gradually fell from beinir 
considered and treated as one of the family in which she 
lived, into a sort of upper servant. 

I have learned, latterly, that Mr. Marchinton had a great 
search made for me. It was his impression I was drowned, 
Bnd several places were dragged for my body. This opinion 



16 NED MYERS; OR, 

lasted until news of my being in New York reached tho 
family. 

My appearance on deck gave rise to a great many jokes 
between the captain of the schooner, and his mate. I was 
a good deal laughed at, but not badly treated, on the whole. 
My office was to be that of cook — by no means a very diffi- 
cult task in that craft, the camboose consisting of two pots 
set in bricks, and the dishes being very simple. In the 
cabin, sassafras was used for tea, and boiled pork and beef 
composed the dinner. The first day, I was excused from 
entering on the duties of my office, on account of sea-sick- 
ness ; but, the next morning, I set about the work in good 
earnest. We had a long passage, and my situation was not 
very pleasant. The schooner was wet, and the seas she 
shipped would put out my fire. There was a deck load of 
shingles, and I soon discovered that these made excellent 
kindling wood ; but it was against the rules of the crafl to 
burn cargo, and my friend the mate had bestowed a few 
kicks on me before I learned to make the distinction. In 
other respects, I did tolerably well ; and, at the end of about 
ten days, we entered Sandy Hook. 

Such was my first passage at sea, or, at least, the first I 
can remember, though I understand we were taken from 
Quebec to Halifax by water. I was not cured of the wish 
to roam by this experiment, though, at that age, impressions 
are easily received, and as readily lost. Some idea may be 
formed of my recklessness, and ignorance of such matters, 
at this time, from the circumstance that I do not remember 
ever to have known the name of the vessel in which I lefl 
Nova Scotia. Change and adventure were my motives, and 
it never occurred to me to inquire into a fact that was so 
immaterial to one of my temperament. To this hour, I am 
ignorant on the subject. 

The schooner came up,, and hauled in abreast of Fly 
Market. She did not come close to the wharf, but made 
fast, temporarily, at its end, outside of two or three oti.or 
vessels. This took place not long after breakfast. I set 
about the preparations for dinner, which was ready, as usual, 
at twelve o'clock. While the crew were eating this meal, 
I had nothing to do, and, seeing a number of boys on the 
wharf, I went ashore, landing for the first time in this, my 



A LIFE BKFORE THE MAST. 17 

adopted country. I was without hat, coat, or shoes ; my 
feet having become sore from marching about among the 
shincrles. The boys were licking molasses from some hogs- 
heads, and I joined in the occupation with great industry. I 
might have been occupied in this manner, and in talking 
with the boys, an hour or more, when I bethought me of my 
duty on board. On looking for the schooner, she was gone J 
Her people, no doubt, thought I was below, and did not 
miss me, and she had been carried to some other berth; 
where, I did not know. I could not find her, nor did I ever 
see her again. 

Suclv then, was my entrance on a new scene. Had I 
known enough to follow the wharves, doubtless I should 
have found the vessel ; but, after a short search, I returned 
to the boys and the molasses. 

That I was concerned at finding myself in a strange 
place, without a farthing in my pockets — without hat, shoes 
or coat, is certain — but it is wonderful how little apprehen- 
sion I felt, I knew nothing, and feared nothing. While 
licking the molasses, I told the boys my situation ; and I met 
with a great deal of sympathy among them. The word 
passed from one to the other, that a " poor English boy had 
lost his vessel, and did not know where to go to pass the 
night." One promised me a supper ; and, as for lodgings, 
ti)e general opinion seemed to be, that I might find a berth 
under one of the butchers' stalls, in the adjacent market. I 
had different projects for myself, however. 

There was a family of the name of Clark, then residing 
in New York, that I had known in Halifax. I remembered 
to have heard my sister, Harriet, speaking of them, not long 
before I quitted home, and that she said they lived in, or 
near, Fly Market. I knew we were at Fly Market ; and 
the name recalled these people. I inquired, accordingly, if 
any one knew such a family ; but met with no success ia 
discovering them. They were strangers ; and no one knew 
them. It was now near sunset ; and I determined to look 
for these people myself. On this errand, then, I set off; 
walking up the market until I reached Maiden Lane, While 
strolling along the street, I heard a female voice suddenly 
exclaim : " Lord I here is Edward Myers, without anything 
&n him 1" At the next instant, Susan Clark, one of the. 
2* 



18 NED MYERS; OR, 

daughters, came running into the street ; and presently I was 
in the house, surrounded by the whole family. 

Of course, I was closely questioned ; and I told the whole 
truth. The Clarks were extremely kind to me, offering me 
clothes, and desiring to keep me with them ; but I did not 
like the family, owing to old quarrels with the boys, and a 
certain sternness in the father, who had made complaints of 
my stealing his fruit, while in Halifax. I was innocent ; and 
the whole proceeding had made me regard Mr. Clark as a 
sort of enemy. My principal motive, in inquiring for the 
family, was to learn where a certain Dr. Heizei'* lived. 
This gentleman was a German, who had formerly |?een in 
the army ; and I knew he was then in New York. In him 
I had more confidence ; and I determined to throw myself on 
his kindness- 
After declining a great many offers, I got the address of 
Dr. Heizer, and proceeded in quest of his residence, just as 
I was. It was moonlight, and I went through the streets 
with boyish confidence. My route lay up Broadway, and 
my destination was one of its corners and Hester Street. 
In 1805, this was nearly out of town, being near Canal 
street. I had been told to look for a bridge, which then 
stood in Broadway, and which answered for a landmark, in 
my new navigation. The bridge I found easily ; and, 
making inquiries at a house, I was told the family I sought 
lived next door. 

The Heizers were greatly surprised at my appearance. 
I was questioned, of course ; and told them the naked truth. 
I knew concealment would be useless ; was naturally frank, 
notwithstanding what I had just done ; and I began to feel 
the want of friends. I was fed ; and that same evening, Dr. 
and Mrs. Heizer led me down Broadway, and equipped me 
in a neat suit of clothes. Within a week, I was sent regu- 
larly to school. 

I never knew what Dr. Heizer did, in relation to my 
arrival. I cannot but think that he communicated the cir- 
cumstances to Mr. Marchinton, who was well known to 

* This is Ned's pronunciation ; though it is probable the name is 
not spelt correctly. The names of Ned are taken a good dcfil ai rm 
dom ; and, doubtless, are often misspelled. — Editor. 



A LIFE BEFORE T HE MAST. 19 

liim ; though, Harriet tells me, the first intelligence they got 
of me was of a much later date, and came from another 
source. Let this be as it might, I was kindly treated ; living, 
in all respects, as if I were one of the family. There was no 
son ; and they all seemed to consider me as one. 

I remained in this family the autumn of 1805, and the 
winter and spring of 1806. I soon tired of school, and 
began to play truant ; generally wandering along the 
wharves, gazing at the ships. Dr. Heizer soon learned this ; 
and, watching me, discovered the propensity I still retained 
for the sea. He and Mrs. Heizer now took me aside, and 
endeavoured to persuade me to return to Halifax ; but I had 
become more and more averse to taking this backward step. 
To own the truth, I had fearful misgivings on the subject of 
floggings ; and I dreaded a long course of severity and disci- 
pline. It is certain, that, while rigid rules of conduct are 
very necessary to some dispositions, there are others with 
which they do not succeed. Mine was of the latter class ; 
for, I think, I am more easily led, thars driven. At all 
events, I had a horror of going back ; and refused to listen 
to the proposal. After a good deal of conversation, and 
many efforts at persuasion. Dr. Heizer consented to let me 
go to sea, from New York ; or affected to consent ; I never 
knew which. 

The Leander, Miranda's flag-ship, in his abortive attempt 
to create a revolution in Spanish-America, was then lying 
ji the Hudson; and Dr. Heizer, who was acquainted with 
some one connected with her, placed me' in this ship, with 
the understanding I was to go in her to Holland. I passed 
the day on board ; going up to my new employer's house, 
for my meals, and to sleep. This course of life may have 
lasted a fortnight ; when I became heartily tired of it. . I 
found I had a mistress, now, as well as a master. The 
former set me to cleaning knives, boots, candlesticks, and 
other similar employments ; converting me into a sort of 
scullion. My pride revolted at this. I have since thought 
it possible, all this was done to create disgust, and to induce 
me to return to Mr. Marchinton ; but it had a very contrary 
efl'ect. 

My desire was to be a sailor. One Sunday I had been 
on board the ship, and, after assisting the mate to show the 



20 NEDMYERS;OK, 

bunting fore and aft, I went back to the house. Here my 
mistress met me with a double allowance of knives to clean. 
We had a quarrel on the subject ; 1 protesting against all 
such work. But to clean the knives I was compelled. About 
half were thrown over the fence, into the adjoining yard ; 
and, cleaning what remained, I took my hat, went to the 
doctor's, and saw no more of my mistress, or of the Le- 
ander. 



CHAPTER II. 

An explanation took place. Dr. and Mrs. Heizer remon- 
strated about my conduct, and endeavoured, once more, to 
persuade me to return to Mr. March Eton's. A great deal 
was told me of the kind intentions of that gentleman, and 
concerning what I might expect from the protection and pa- 
tronage of my god-father, the Duke of Kent. I cannot help 
thinking, now, that much of the favour which was extended 
towards me at that early period of life, was owing to the 
circumstance that the prince had consented to stand for me 
at my baptism. He was a great disciplinarian — so great, 
indeed, I remember to have heard, as to cause more than 
one mutiny — and my father being a German, and coming 
from a people that carried military subordination to extremes, 
it is highly probable I was indebted, for this compliment, to 
a similarity of tastes between the two. I cared little for all 
this, however, in 1805, and thought far less of being pro- 
tected by a prince of the blood royal, than of going to sea, 
and especially of escaping from the moral discipline of Mr. 
Marchinton. Finding his arguments vain. Dr. Heizer sent 
me to school again, where I continued a few months longer. 

All this time, my taste for ships rather increased than 
diminished. At every opportunity I was on the wharves, 
studying the different craft, and endeavouring to understand 
their rig. One day I saw a British ensign, and, while look- 
ing at it, with a feeling of strong disgust, I heard myself 
called by name. A glance told me that I was seen by a 
Halifax man, and I ran away, under the apprehension tha 



A LIFE BEFORE TUh MAST. 21 

he might, by some means, seize me and carry me back. My 
feelings on this head were all alive, and that very day one of 
the young ladies said, in a melancholy way, " JEdouard," 
" Halifa-v." These girls spoke scarcely any English, having 
been born in Martinique ; and they talked much together in 
French, looking at me occasionally, as if I were the subject 
of their discourse. It is probable conscience was at the bot- 
tom of this conceit of mine ; but the latter now became so 
strong, as to induce me to determine to look out for a vessel 
for myself, and be off again. With this view, I quitted a 
negro who had been sent with me to market, under the pre- 
tence of going to school, but went along the wharves until I 
found a ship that took my fancy. She was called the Ster- 
ling, and there was a singularly good-looking mate on her 
deck, of the name of Irish, who was a native of Nantucket 
The ship was commanded by Capt. John Johnston, of Wis- 
casset, in Maine, and belonged to his father and himself. 

I went on board the Sterling, and, after looking about for 
some time, I ventured to offer myself to Mr. Irish, as a boy 
who wished to ship. I was questioned, of course, but evaded 
any very close answers. After some conversation, Capt. 
Johnston came on board, and Mr. Irish told him what I 
wanted. My examination now became much closer, and I 
found myself driven to sheer fabrication in order to effect my 
purposes. During my intercourse with different sea-going 
lads of Halifax, I had learned the particulars of the capture 
of the Cleopatra 32, by the French frigate Ville de Milan 38, 
and her recapture by the Leander 50, which ship captured 
the Ville de Milan at the same time. I said my father had 
been a serjeant of marines, and was killed in the action — 
that I had run away when the ships got in, and that I wished 
to be bound to some American ship-master, in order to be- 
come a regularly-trained seaman. This story so far imposed 
on Capt. Johnston as to induce him to listen to my proposals, 
and in part to accept them. We parted with an understand- 
mg that I was to get my clothes, and come on board the 
vessel. 

It was twelve at noon when I got back to Dr. Heizer's. 
My first business was tO' get my clothes into the yard, a few 
at a time ; after which I ate my dinner with the family. As 
soon as we rose from table, I stole away with my bundle. 



k: 



22 N£DMYEBS;OR, 

leaving these kind people to believe I had returned to school. 
I never saw one of them afterwards ! On my return to New 
York, several years later, I learned they had all gone to 
Martinique to live. I should not have quitted this excellent 
family in so clandestine a manner, had I not been haunted 
with the notion that I was about to be sent back to Halifax, 
a place I now actually hated. 

Capt. Johnston received me good-naturedly, and that 
night I slept and supped at the Old Coffee House, Old Slip^ 
his own lodgings. He seemed pleased with me, and I was 
delighted with him. The next day he took me to a slop- 
shop, and I was rigged like a sailor, and was put in the 
cabin, where I was to begin my service in the regular way. 
A boy named Daniel McCoy was in the ship, and had been 
out to Russia in her, as cabin-boy, the last voyage. He was 
now to be sent into the forecastle, and was ordered to instruct 
me in my duty. 

I was now comparatively happy, though anxious to be 
bound to Capt. Johnston, and still more so to be fairly at sea. 
The Sterling had a good, old-fashioned cabin, as cabins went 
in 1806 ; and I ran about her state-room, rummaged her 
lockers, and scampered up and down her companion-way, 
with as much satisfaction as if they had all belonged to a 
palace. Dan McCoy was every day on board, and we had 
the accommodations of the ship very much to ourselves. 
Two or three days later, Capt. Johnston took me to the 
proper place, and I was put under regular indentures, to 
serve until I was twenty-one. I now felt more confidence 
in my situation, knowing that Dr. Heizer had no legal 
authority over me. The work I did, in no manner offended 
my dignity, for it was on ship-board, and belonged properly 
to my duty as a cabin-boy. 

The Sterling soon began to take in. her cargo. She was 
to receive a freight of flour, for Cowes and a market. Not 
only was the hold filled, but the state-room and cabin, leav- 
ing barely room to climb over the barrels to reach the berths. 
A place was left, just inside of the cabin door, for the table. 
Passengers were not common in that day, while commerce 
was pushed to the utmost. Our sails were bending when 
the consignee, followed by another merchant, came down 
to the ship, accompanied by a youth, who, it was un 



AtlilFE BEFORE THE MAST. 23 

derstood, wished also to be received in the vessel. This 
youth was named Cooper, and was never called by any other 
appellation in the ship. He was accepted by Capt. Johnston, 
signed the articles, and the next day he joined us, in sailor's 
rig. He never came to the cabin, but was immediately em- 
ployed forward, in such service as he was able to perform, 
it was afterwards understood that he was destined for the 
navy. 

The very day that Cooper joined us, was one of deep dis- 
grace to me. The small stores came on board for the cabin, 
and Dan McCoy persuaded me to try the flavour of a bottle 
of cherry-bounce. I did not drink much, but the little I 
swallowed made me completely drunk. This was the first 
time I ever was in that miserable and disgraceful plight ; 
would to God I could also say it was the last ! The last it 
was, however, for several years ; that is some comfort. I 
thank my Divine Master that I have lived to see the hour 
when intoxicating liquors have ceased to have any command 
over me, and when, indeed, they never pass my lips. Capt. 
Johnston did not flog me for this act of folly, merely pulling 
my ears a little, and sharply reprimanding me ; both he and 
Mr. Irish seeming to understand that my condition had pro- 
ceeded from the weakness of my head. Dan was the prin- 
cipal sufferer, as, to say the truth, he ought to have been. 
He was rope's-ended for his pains. 

Next day the stevedores took the ship into the stream, and 
the crew came on board. The assembling of the crew of a 
merchantman, in that day, was a melancholy sight. The 
men came off, bearing about them the signs of the excesses 
of which they had been guilty while on shore ; some listless 
and stupid, others still labouring under the effects of liquor, 
and some in that fearful condition which seamen themselyes 
term having the " horrors." Our crew was neither better 
nor worse than that of other ships. It was also a sample 
of the mixed character of the crews of American vessels 
during the height of her neutral trade. The captain, chief- 
mate, cook, and four of those forward, were American born; 
while the second-mate was a Portuguese. The boys were, 
one Scotch, and one a Canadian ; and there were a Spanii/rd, 
a Prussian, a Dane, and an Englishm-an, in the forecastle. 
There was also an Englishman who worked his passage, 



24 nedmyi:rs;ob, 

having been the cooper of a whaler that was wrecked. As 
Dan McCoy was sent forward, too, this put ten in the fore- 
castle, besides the cook, and left five aft, including the master 
of another wrecked English vessel, whom we took out as a 
passenger. 

That afternoon we lifted our anchor, and dropped down 
abreast of Governor's Island, where we brought up. Next 
day all hands were called to get under way, and, as soon aa 
the anchor was short, the mate told Cooper and myself to 
go up and loose the foretopsail. I went on one yard-arm 
and Cooper went on the other. In a few minutes the second 
mate came up, hallooing to us to "avast," and laughing. 
Cooper was hard at work at the " robins," and would soon 
have had his half of the sail down in the top, had he been let 
alone ; while I was taking the gaskets from the yard, with 
the intention of bringing them carefully down on deck, where 
it struck me they would be quite safe. Luckily for us, the 
men were too busy heaving, and too stupid, to be very criti- 
cal, and we escaped much ridicule. In a week we both 
knew better. 

The ship only got to the quarantine ground that day, but 
in the morning we went to sea. Our passage was long and 
stormy. The ship was on a bow-line most of the time, and 
we were something like forty days from land to laud. No- 
thing extraordinary occurred, however, and we finally made 
the Bill of Portland. The weather came on thick, but we 
found a pilot, and- ran into St. Helen's Roads and anchorea 
The captain got into his boat, and taking four men pulled 
ashore, to look for his orders at Cowes. 

That afternoon it cleared off", and we found a pilot lying 
a little outside of us. About sunset a man-of-war's cutter 
came alongside, and Mr. Irish was ordered to muster the 
crew. The English lieutenant, who was tolerably bowsed 
up, took his seat behind the cabin table, while the men came 
down, and stood in the companion-way passage, to be over- 
hauled. Most of the foreigners had gone in the boat, but 
two of the Americans that remained were uncommonly fine- 
looking men, and were both prime seamen. One, whose 
name was Thomas Cook, was a six-footer, and had the air 
of a thorough sea-dog. He filled the lieutenant's eye might- 
ily, and Cook was very coolly told to gather his dun<»ege, 



A LIFi: BEFOBE THE MAST. 20 

as he was wanted. Cook pointed to his protection, but the 
lieutenant answered — " Oh ! these things are nothing — any- 
body can have one for two dollars, in New York, You are 
an Englishman, and the King has need of your services." 
Cook now took out of his pocket a certificate, that was sign 
ed by Sir John Beresford, stating that Thomas Cook had 
been discharged from His Maj. Ship Cambrian, after a pretty 
long service in her, because he had satisfactorily proved that 
he was a native-born American. The lieutenant could not 
very well dishonour this document, and he reluctantly let 
Cook go, keeping his protection, however. He next select- 
ed Isaac Gaines, a native New Yorker, a man whose father 
and friends were known to the captain. But Gaines had no 
discharge like that of Cook's, and the poor fellow was obliged 
to rowse up his chest and get into the cutter. This he did 
with tears in his eyes, and to the regret of all on board, he 
being one of the best men in the ship. We asked the boat'3 
crew to what vessel they belonged, and they gave us the 
name of a sixty-four in the offing, but we observed, as they 
pulled away from us, that they took the direction of another 
ship. This was the last I ever saw, or heard,, of Isaac 
Gaines. Cook went on with us, and one day, while in Lon- 
don, he went with Cooper to Somerset House to get an or- 
der for some prize-money, to which he was entitled for his 
service in the Cambrian, -as was showa by his discharge. 
The clerk asked him to leave the certificate, and call a day 
or two later, when he would have searched out the amount. 
This was done, and Cook, being now without certiiicate or 
protection, was pressed on his way back to the ship. We 
never heard of him, either. Such was often the fate of 
Bailors, in that day, who were with you one day, and lost 
for ever the next. 

Captain Johnston did not get back to the ship for four 
and-twenty hours. He brought orders for us to go up to 
London ; and, the wind being fair, and almost a gale, we got 
under way, and were off as soon as possible. The nex 
morning we were in the straits of Dover ; the wind light, 
but fair. This was at a moment when all England was in 
arms, in anticipation of an invasion from France. Forty 
•odd sail of vessels of war were counted from our ship, as the 
3 



2G N K 1) M Y £ R S ; O R . 

day dawned, that had been cruising in the narrow waters, 
during the night, to prevent a surprise. 

We worked our way up to London, with the tides, .ind 
were carried into London dock ; where we discharged. Thia 
was my first visit to the modern Babylon, of course ; but 1 
had little opportunity of seeing much. I had one or two 
cruises, of a Sunday, in tow of Cooper, who soon became a 
branch pilot, in those waters, about the parks and west end • 
but I was too young to learn much, or to observe much. 
Most of us went to see the monument, St. Paul's, and the 
lions ; and Cooper put himself in charge of a beef-eater, and 
took a look at the arsenals, jewels and armoury. He had 
a rum time of it, in his sailor rig, but hoisted in a wonderful 
deal of gibberish, according to his own account of his cruise. 

Captain Johnston now got a freight for the ship, and we 
hauled into the stream, abreast of the dock-gates, and took 
in shingle ballast. The Prussian, Dane, second mate, and 
the English cooper, all left us, in London. We got a Phila- 
delphian, a chap from Maine, who had just been discharged 
from an English man-of-war, and an Irish lad, in their 
places. In January we sailed, making the b6st of our way 
for the straits of Gibraltar. The passage was stormy — the 
Bay of Biscay, in particular, giving us a touch of its 
qualities. It was marked by only two incidents, however, 
out of the usual way. While running down the coast of 
Portugal, with the land in sight, we made an armed felucca 
astern, and to windward. . This vessel gave chase ; and, 
the captain disliking her appearance, we carried hard, in 
order to avoid her. The weather was thick, and it blew 
fresh, occasionally, in squalls. Whenever it lulled,, the 
felucca gained on us, we having, a very little, the advantage 
in the puffs. At length the felucca began to fire ; and, find- 
mg that his shot were coming pretty near, Captiain Johnston, 
knowing that he was in ballast, thought it wisest to heave-to. 
Ten minutes after our maintopsail was aback, the felucca 
ranged up close under our lee ; hailed, and ordered us to 
send a boat, with our papers, on board her. A more ras- 
cally-looking craft never gave such an order to an unarmea 
merchantman. As our ship rose on a sea, and he fell into 
the trough, we could look directly down upon his decks, and 
Jhus form some notion of what we were to expect, when hr 



A^LIPE B£FOR£ THE MAST. 27 

got possession of us. His people were in red caps and shirts, 
and appeared to be composed of the rakings of such places? 
as Gibraltar, Cadiz and Lisbon. He had ten long guns ; 
and pikes, pistols and muskets, were plenty with him. On 
the end of each latine-yard was a chap on the look-out, who 
occasionally turned his eyes towards us, as if to anticipate 
the gleanings. That we should be plundered, every one 
expected ; and it was quite likely we might be ill-treated. 
As soon as we hove-to, Captain Johnston gave me the best 
spy-glass, with orders to hand it to Cooper, to hide. The 
latter buried it in the shingle ballast. We, in the cabin, 
concealed a bag of guineas so effectually, that, after all was 
over, we could not find it ourselves. 

The jolly-boat had been stowed in the launch, on account 
of the rough weather we had expected to meet, and tackles 
had to be got aloft before we could hoist it out. This con- 
sumed some time, during which there was a lull. The fe- 
lucca, seeing us busy at this work, waited patiently until we 
had got the boat over the side, and into the water. Cooper, 
Dan McCoy, Big Dan, and Spanish Joe, then got into her ; 
and the captain had actually passed his writing-desk into the 
boat, and had his leg on the rail, to go over the side himself, 
when a squall struck the ship. The men were called out 
of the boat to clew down the topsails, and a quarter of an 
hour passed in taking care of the vessel. By this time the 
squall had passed, and it lightened up a little. There lay 
the felucca, wailing for the boat ; and the men were reluc- 
tantly going into the latter again, when the commander of 
the felucca waved his hand to us, his craft fell off and filled, 
wing-and-wing, skimming away towards the coast, like a 
duck. We stood gaping and staring at her, not knowing 
what to make of this manoeuvre, when " bang !" went a 
heavy gun, a little on our weather quarter. The shot passed 
our wake, for we had .filled our topsail, and it went skipping 
from sea to sea, after the felucca. Turning our eyes in the 
direction of the report, we saw a frigate running down upon 
the felucca, carrying studding-sails on both sides, with the 
water foaming up to her hawse-holes. As she passed our 
stern, she showed an English ensign, but took no other no- 
tice of us, continuing on after the felucca, and occasionally 
measuring her distance with a shot. Both vessels soon dis 



28 NEDMyERS;OR, 

appeared in the mist, though we heard guns for some tima. 
As for ourselves, we jogged along on our course, wishing 
good luck to the Englishman. The felucca showed no en- 
sign, the whole day. Our guineas were found, some weeks 
later, in a bread-locker, after we had fairly eaten our way 
down to them. 

The other adventure occurred very soon after this escape; 
for, though the felucca may have had a commission, she was 
a pirate in appearance, and most probably in her practices. 
The thick westerly weather continued until we had passed 
the Straits. The night we were abreast of Cape Trafalgar, 
the captain came on deck in the middle watch, and, hailing 
the forecastle, ordered a sharp look-out kept, as we must be 
running through Lord Collingwood's fleet. The words were 
hardly out of his mouth, when Spanish Joe sung out, " sail 
ho !" There she was, sure enough, travelling right down 
upon us, in a line that threatened to take us between the 
fore and main masts. The captain ordered our helm hard 
up, and yelled for Cooper to bring up the cabin lantern. 
The youngster made one leap down the ladder, just scraping 
the steps with his heels, and was in the mizzen rigging with 
the light, in half a minute. That saved us. So near was 
the stranger, that we plainly heard the officer of the deck 
call out to his own quarter-master to " port, hard a-port — 
hard a-port, and be d — d to you !" Hard a-port it was, and 
a two-decker came brushing along on our weather beam — 
so near, that, when she lifted on the seas, it seemed as if the 
muzzles of her guns would smash our rails. The Sterling 
did not behave well on this occasion, for, getting a yaw to 
windward, she seemed disposed to go right into the English- 
man, before she would mind her helm. After the man-of- 
war hailed, and got our answer, her officer quaintly re- 
marked that we were " close on board him." It blew too 
fresh for boats, and we were suffered to pass without being 
boarded. 

The ship proceeded up to Carthagena, and went in. Here 
we were put in quarantine for several days. The port was 
full of heavy ships of war, several of which were three- 
deckers ; and an arrival direct from London made quite a 
sensation among them. We had divers visits from the 
officers, though T do not know what it all amounted to. 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 29 

From Carthagena we were sent down the coast to a little 
place called Aguilas, where we began to take in a cargo of 
barilla. At night we would discharge our shingle ballast 
into the water, contrary to law ; and, in the day, we took 
in cargo. So clear was the water, that our night's work 
might easily be seen next morning, lying beneath the ship. 
As we lay m a roadstead, it mattered little, few vessels 
touching at \\e port. While at this place, there was an 
alarm of an attack from an English man-of-war that was 
seen in the offing, and priests enough turned out to defend 
an ordinary town. 

We got about half our freight at this little village, and 
then came down as low as Almeria, an old Moorish town, 
just below Cape de Gatte, for the remainder. Here we lay 
several weeks, finishing stowing our cargo. I went ashore 
almost every day to market, and had an opportunity of seeing 
something of the Spaniards. Our ship lay a good distance 
off, and we landed at a quarantine station, half a mile, at 
least, from the water-gate, to which we were compelled to 
walk along the beach. 

One of my journeys to the town produced a little adven- 
ture. The captain had ordered Cooper to boil some pitch 
at the galley. By some accident, the pot was capsized, and 
the ship came near being burned. A fresh pot was now 
provided, and Cooper and Dan McCoy were sent ashore, at 
the station, with orders to boil down pitch on the land. There 
was no wharf, and it was always necessary to get ashore 
through a surf. The bay is merely an elbow, half the winds 
blowing in from the open sea. Sometimes, therefore, land- 
ing is ticklish work and requires much skill. I went ashore 
with the pitch, and proceeded into the town on my errands, 
whilst the two lads lighted their fire and began to boil down. 
When all was ready, it was seen there was a good deal of 
swell, and that the breakers looked squally. The orders, 
however, were to go off, on such occasions, and not to wait, 
as delay generally made matters worse. We got into the 
boat, accordingly, and shoved off. For a minute, or more, 
things went well enough, when a breaker took the bows of 
the jolly-boat, lifted her nearly on end, and turned her keel 
uppermost. One scarcely knows how he gets out of such 
a scrape. We all came ashore, however, heels over head, 
3* 



30 nedmyi:rs;or, 

people, pot, boat, and oars. The experiment was renewed, 
less the pitch and a pair of new shoes of mine, and it met 
with exactly the same result. On a third eifort, the boa/ 
got through the surf and we succeeded in reaching the ship. 
These are the sorts of scenes that harden lads, and make 
them ti)nd of risks. I could not swim a stroke, and cer- 
tainly would have been drowned had not the Mediterranean 
cast me ershore, as if disdaining to take a life of so little 
value to anybody but myself. 

After lying several weeks at Almeria, the ship got' under 
way for England again. We had fresh westerly gales, and 
beat to and fro, between Europe and Africa, for some time, 
when we got a Levanter that shoved us out into the Atlan- 
tic at a furious rate. In the Straits we passed a squadron 
of Portuguese frigates, that was cruising against the Alge- 
rines. It was the practice of these ships to lie at the Rock 
until it blew strong enough from the eastward to carry ves- 
sels throQgh the Gut, when they weighed and kept in the 
offing until the wind shifted. This was blockading the At- 
lantic against their enemies, and the Mediterranean against 
their own ships. 

• We had a long passage and were short of salt provisions. 
Falling in with an American in the Bay of Biscay, we got 
a barrel of beef which lasted us in. When near the chops 
of the channel, with a light southerly wind, we made a sail 
in our wake, that came up with us hand over hand. She 
went nearly two feet to our one, the barilla pressing the 
Sterling down into the water, and making her very dull, 
more especially in light airs. When the stranger got near 
enough, we saw that he was pumping, the water running 
out of his scuppers in a constant stream. He was several 
hours in sight, the whole time pumping. This ship passed 
within a cable's-Iength of us, without taking any more no- 
tice of us than if we had been a mile-stone. She was an 
English two-decker, and we could distinguish the features 
of her men, as they stood in the waist, apparently taking 
breath after their trial at the pumps. She dropped a hawse- 
bucket, and we picked it up, when she was about half a mile 
ahead of us. It had the broad-arrow on it, and a custom- 
house officer seeing it, some time after, was disposed to seizfl 
it as a prize. 



▲ LIF£B£FOR£ THE MAST. 31 

We never knew the name of this ship, but there was 
Bonciething proud and stately in her manner of passing us, 
in her distress, without so much as a hail. It is true, we 
could have done her no good, and her object, doubtless, was 
to get into dock as soon as possible. Some thought she had 
been in action, and was going home to repair damages that 
could not be remedied at sea. 

Soon after this vessel was seen, we had proof how diffi- 
cult it is to judge of a ship's size at sea. A vessel was made 
ahead, standing directly for us. Mr. Irish soon pronounced 
her a sloop of war. Half an hour later she grew into a fri- 
gate, but when she came abeam she showed three tiers of 
ports, being a ninety. This ship also passed without deign- 
ing to take any notice of us. 



CHAPTER Hi. 

We made the Land's End in fine weather, and with a 
fair wind. Instead of keeping up channel, however, our 
ship hauled in for the land. Cooper was at the helm, and 
the captain asked him if he knew of any one on board who 
had ever been into Falmouth. He was told that Philadel- 
phia Bill had been pointing out the different head-lands on 
tiie forecastle, and that, by his own account, he had sailed a 
long time out of the port. This Bill was a man of fifty, 
steady, trust-worthy, quiet, and respected by every man in 
the ship. He had taken a great liking to Cooper, whom he 
used to teach how to knot and splice, and other niceties of 
the calling, and Cooper often took him ashore with him, and 
amused him with historical anecdotes of the different places 
we visited. In short, the intimacy between them was as 
great as well could be, seeing the difference in their educa- 
tions and: ages. But, even to Cooper, Bill always called 
himself a Philadelphian. In appearance, indeed, he resem- 
bled one of those whom we call Yankees, in America, mor 
than anything else. 

Bill was now sent for and questioned. He seemed un- 
easy, but admitted he could take the ship into Falmouth, 
Tliere was nothing in the way, but a rock abreast Penden- 



32 NEDMY£KS;OR, 

nis Castle, but it was easy to give that a berth. We now 
learned that the captain had made up his mind to go into 
this port and ride out the quarantine to which all Mediterra- 
nean vessels were subject. Bill took us in very quietly, 
and the ship was ordered up a few miles above the town, to 
a bay where vessels rode out their quarantine. The next 
day a doctor's boat came alongside, and we were ordered to 
show ourselves, and flourish our limbs, in order to make it 
evident we were alive and kicking. There were four men 
in the boat, and, as it turned out, every one of them recog- 
nised Bill, who was born within a few miles of the very spot 
where the ship lay, and had a wife then living a great deal 
nearer to him than he desired. It was this wife — there hap- 
pening to be too much of her — that had driven the poor fei 
low to America, twenty years before, and which rendered 
him unwilling to live in his native country. By private 
means. Bill managed to have some communication with the 
men in the boat, and got their promises not to betray him. 
This was done by signs altogether, speaking being quite out 
of the question. 

We were near, or quite, a fortnight in quarantme ; after 
which the ship dropped down abreast of the town. This 
was of a Saturday, and Sunday, a portion of the crew were 
permitted to go ashore. Bill was of the number, and when 
he returned he admitted that he had been so much excited 
at finding himself in the place, that he had been a little 
indiscreet. That night he was very uncomfortable, but 
nothing occurred to molest any of us. The next morning 
all seemed right, and Bill began to be himself again ; often 
wishing, however, that the anchor was a-weigh, and the 
ship turning out of the harbour. We soon got at work, and 
began to work down to the mouth of the haven, with a light 
breeze. The moment we were clear of the points, or head- 
lands, we could make a fair wind of it up channel. The 
ship was in stays, pretty well down,, under Pendennis, and 
the order had been given to swing the head yards. Bill and 
Cooper were pulling together at the foretopsail brace, when 
the report of a musket was heard quite near the ship. Bill 
let go the brace, turned as white as a sheet, and exclaimed, 
" I'm gone !" At first, the men near him thought he was 
shot, but a gesture towards the boa' which had fired, ex- 



ALIFEBEORETHEMAST. 33 

plained his meaning. The order was given to belay the 
head braces, and we waited the result in silence. 

The press-gang was soon on board us, and its officer asked 
to have the crew mustered. This humiliating order was 
obeyed, and all hands of us were called aft. The officer 
seemed easily satisfied, until he came to Bill. " What coun- 
tryman are youV he asked. "An American — a Philadol- 
phian," answered Bill. " You are an Englishman." " No, 

sir ; I was born " " Over here, across the bay," inter- 

■tipted the officer, wich a cool smile, " where your dear wife 

IS at this moment. Your narne is , and you are 

well known in Falmouth. Get your clothes, and be ready 
lo go in the boat." 

This settled the matter. Captain Johnston paid Bill his 
wages, his chest was lowered into the boat, and the poor 
fellow took an affectionate leave of his ship-mates. He told 
those around him that his fate was sealed. He was too old 
to outlive a war that appeared to have no end, and they 
would never trust liim on shore. " My foot will never touch 
the land again," he said to Cooper, as he squeezed his young 
friend's hand, " and I am to live and die, with a ship for my 
vprison," 

The loss of poor Bill made us all sad ; but there was no 
remedy. We got into the offing, and sqitared away for the 
river again. When we reached London, the ship discharged 
down at Limehouse, where she lay in a tier of Americans 
for some time. We* then took in a little ballast, and went 
up opposite to the dock gates once more. We next docked 
and cleaned the ship, on the Deptford side, and then hauled 
into the wet-dock in which we had discharged our flour. 

Here the ship lay part of May, all of June, and most of 
July, taking in freight for Philadelphia, as it offered. This 
gave our people a good, deal of spare time, and we were 
allowed to go ashore whenever we were not wanted. Cooper 
now took me in tow, and many a drift I had with him and 
Dan McCoy up to St. Paul's, the parks, palaces, and the 
Abbey. A little accident that happened about this time, 
attached me to Cooper more than common, and made me 
more desirous than ever to cruise in his company. 

I was alone, on deck, one Sunday, when I saw a little 
dog running about on board a vessel that lay outside of us. 



ti4 N£DMYERS;OR, 

Arouncl the neck of this animal, some one had fastened a 
sixpence, by a bit of riband rove through a hole. I thought 
this sixpence might be made better use of, in purchasing 
some cherries, for which I had a strong longing, and I gave 
chase. In attempting to return to our own ship, with the 
dog, I fell into the water, between the two vessels. I could 
not swim a stroke ; and I sang out, lustily, for help. As 
good luck would have it, Cooper came on board at that pre- 
cise instant ; and, hearing my outcry, he sprang down be- 
tween the ships, and rescued me from drowning. I thought 
I was gone ; and my condition made an impression on me 
that never will be lost. Had not Cooper accidentally 
appeared, just as he did, Ned Myers's yarn would have 
ended with this paragraph. I ought to add, that the six- 
pence got clear, the dog swimming away with it. 

I had another escape from drowning, while we lay in the 
docks, having fallen overboard from the jolly-boat, while 
making an attempt at sculling. •! forget, now, how I was 
saved ; but then I had the boat and the oar to hold on to. In 
the end, it will be seen by what a terrific lesson I finally 
learned to swim. 

One Sunday we were drifting up around the palace; and 
then it was that I told Cooper that the Duke of Kent was my 
godfather. He tried to persuade me to make a call ; saying 
I could do no less than pay this respect to the prince. I had 
half a mind to try my hand at a visit ; tut felt too shy, and 
too much afraid. Had I done as Cooper so strongly urged 
me to do, one cannot say what might have been the conse- 
quences, or what change might have been brought about in 
my fortunes.* 

One day Mr. Irish was in high glee, having received a 
message from Captain Johnston, to inform him that the lat- 
ter was pressed ! The captain used to dress in a blue long- 
tog, drab-breeches and top-boots, when he went ashore. 
" He thought he could pass for a gentleman from the coun- 
try," said Mr. Irish, laughing, ■ " but them pressgang chaps 

* I well remember using these arguments to Ned ; though less with 
any expectations of being admitted, than the boy seemed to believe, 
There was more roguery, than anythmg else, in my persuasion ; 
though it was mixed with a latent wish to see the interior of the pa- 
]ace. — Editoh. 



A LlFJj} BEFORE TII£ MAST. 35 

smelt the tar in his very boots !" Cooper was sent to the 
rendezvous, with the captain's desk and papers, and the 
latter was liberated. We all liked the captain, who was 
kind and considerate in his treatment of all hands ; but it 
was fine fijn for us to have " the old fellow" pressed — " old 
felloio" of six or eight-and-twenty, as he was then. 

About the last of July, we left London, bound home. Our 
crew had again undergone some changes. We shipped a 
second mate, a New-England man. Jim Russel left us. 
We had lost Bill ; and, another Bill, a dull Irish lad, who 
had gone to Spain, quitted us also. Our crew consisted of 
only Spanish Joe ; Big Dan ; Little Dan ; Stephen, the Ken- 
nebunk man ; Cooper ; a Swede, shipped in London ; a man 
whose name I have forgotten ; and a young man who passed 

by the name of Davis, but who was, in truth, , a 

son of the pilot who had brought us in, and taken us out, 
each time we passed up or down the river. This Davis had 
sailed in a coaster belonging to his father, and had got pressed 
in Sir Home Popham's South-American squadron. They 
made him a midshipman ; but, disliking the sea, he was de 
termined to go to America. We had to smuggle him out 
of the country, on account of the pressgang; he making his 
appearance on board us, suddenly, one night, in the river. 

The Sterling was short-handed this passage, mustering 
but four hands in a watch. Notwithstanding, we often 
reefed in the watch, though Cooper and Little Dan were 
both scarcely more than boys. Our mates used to go aloft, and 
both were active, powerful men. The cook, too, was a 
famous fellow at a drag. In these delicate times, when two 
or three days of watch and watch knock up a set of young 
men, one looks back with pride to a passage like this, when 
fourteen men and boys — four of the latter — brought a good 
sized ship across the ocean, reefing in the watch, weathering 
many a gale, and thinking nothing of it. I presume half 
our people, on a pinch, could have brought the Sterling in. 
One of the boys I have mentioned was named John Pugh, a 
little fellow the captain had taken as an apprentice in Lon- 
don, and who was now at sea for the first time in his life. 

We had a long passage. Every inch of the way to the 
Downs was tide-work. Here we lay several days, waiting 
for a wind. It blew fresh from the southwest half of that 



36 NI^DMYERS; OR, 

summer, and the captain was not willing to go out with a 
foul wind. We wer-tj surrounded with vessels of war, most 
of the Channel Fleet being at anchor around us. This 
made a gay scene, and we had plenty of music, and plenty 
of saluting. One day all hands turned-to together, and fired 
starboard and larboard, until we could see nothing but a few 
mast-heads. What it all meant I never heard, but it made 
a famous smoke, and a tremendous noise. 

A frigate came in, and anchored just ahead of us. She 
lowered a boat, and sent a reefer alongside to inform us that 

she was His Majesty's ship ; that she had lost all her 

anchors but the stream, and she might strike adrift, and he 
advised us to get out of her way. The captain held on 
that day, however, but next morning she came into us, 
sure enough. The ships did not get clear without some 
trouble, and we thought it wisest to shift our berth. Once 
aweigh, the captain thought it best to turn out of the 
Downs, which we did, working through the Straits, and 
anchoring under Dungeness, as soon as the flood made. 
Here we lay until near sun-set, when we got under way to 
try our hand upon the ebb. I believe the skipper had made 
up his mind to tide it down to the Land's End, rather than 
remain idle any longer. There was a sloop of war lying 
in-shore of us, a mile or so, and just as we stretched out 
from under the land, she began to telegraph with a signal 
station ashore. Soon after, she weighed, and came out, 
also. In the middle watch we passed this ship, on opposite 
tacks, and learned that an embargo had been laid, and that 
we had only saved our distance by some ten or fifteen min- 
utes ! This embargo was to prevent the intelligence of the 
Copenhagen expedition from reaching the Danes. That very 
day, we passed a convoy of transports, carrying a brigade 
from Pendennis Castle to Yarmouth, in order to join the 
main fleet. A gun-brig brought us to, and came near press - 
ing the Swede, under the pretence that being allies of his 
king, England had a right to . his services. Had not the 
man been as obstinate as a bull, and positively refused to 
go, I do believe we should have lost him. He was ordered 
into the boat at least half-a-dozen times, but swore he would 
not budge. Cooper had a little row with this boarding o^ 
rer, but was silenced by the captain. 



A lilFE BEFORE THE MAST. 37 

After the news received from the sloop of war, it may be 
supposed we did not venture to anchor anywhere on English 
ground. Keeping the channel, we passed the Isle of Wight 
several times, losing on the flood, the distance made on the 
ebb. At length we got a slant and fetched out into the At- 
lantic, heading well to the southward, however. Our pas- 
sage was long, even after we got clear, the winds carrying 
us down as low as Corvo, which island we made, and then 
taking us well north again. We had one very heavy blow 
that forced us to scud, the Sterling being one of the wettest 
ships that ever floated, when heading up to the sea. 

When near the American coast, we spoke an English brig 
that gave us an account of the affair between the Leopard 
and the Chesapeake, though he made his own countrymen 
come out second-best. Bitter were the revilings of Mr. Irish 
when the pilot told us the real state of the case. As was 
usual with this ship's luck, we tided it up the bay and river, 
and got safe alongside of the wharf at Philadelphia, at last. 
Here our crew was broken up, of course, and, with the ex- 
ception of Jack Pugh, my brother apprentice, and Cooper, I 
never saw a single soul of them afterwards. Most of them 
went on to New York, and were swallowed up in the great 
vortex of seamen. Mr. Irish, I heard, died the next voyage 
he made, chief mate of an Indiaman. He was a prime fel- 
low, and fit to command a ship. 

Such was my first voyage at sea, for I count the passage 
round from Halifax as nothing. I had been kept in the 
cabin, it is true, but our work had been of the most active 
kind. The Sterling must have brought up, and been got 
under way, between fifty and a hundred times ; and as for 
tacking, waring, chappelling round, and box-hauling, we had 
so much of it by the channel pilots, that the old barky scarce 
knew which end was going foremost. In that day, a ship 
did not get from the Forelands up to London without some 
trouble, and great was our envy of the large blocks and 
light cordage of the colliers, which made such easy work 
for their men. We singled much of our rigging, the second 
voyage up the river, ourselves, and it was a great relief to 
the people. A set of grass foresheets, too, that we bought 
in Spain, got to be great favourites, though, in the end, they 
cost the ship the life of a very valuable man. 
4 



X. 



38 N£DHrERS;OR, 

Captain Johnston now determined to send me to Wiscas- 
set, that I might go to school. A Wiscasset schooner, called 
the Clarissa, had come into Philadelphia, with freight from 
the West Indies, and she was about to sail for home in bal- 
last. I was put on board as a passenger, and we sailed 
about a week after the ship got in from London. Jack Pugh 
staid behind, the Sterling being about to load for Ireland. 
On board the Clarissa I made the acquaintance of a Phila- 
delphian born, who was an apprentice to the master of the 
schooner, of the name of Jack Mallet. He was a little oldei 
than myself, and we soon became intimate, and, in time, 
were fated to see many strange things in company. 

The Clarissa went, by the Vineyard Sound and the Shoals, 
into Boston. Here she landed a few crates, and then sailed 
for Wiscasset, where we arrived after a pretty long passage. 
I was kindly received by the mother and family of Captain 
Johnston, and immediately sent to school. Shortly after, 
we heard of the embargo, and, the Clarissa being laid up, 
Jack Mallet became one of my school-mates. We soon 
learned that the Sterling had not been able to get out, and, 
ere long. Jack Pugh joined our party. A little later. Captain 
Johnston arrived, to go into the commercial quarantine with 
the rest of us. 

This was the long embargo, as sailors called it, and it did 
not terminate until Erskine's arrangement was made, in 
1809. All this time I remained in Wiscasset, at school, 
• well treated, and, if anything, too much indulged. Captain 
Johnston remained at home all this time, also, and, having 
nothing else to do, he set about looking out for a wife. We 
had, at school. Jack Pugh, Jack Mallet, and Bill Swett, the 
latter being a lad a little older than myself, and a nephew 
of the captain's. I was now sixteen, and had nearly gotten 
my growth. 

As soon as the embargo was removed, Captain Johnston, 
accompanied by Swett, started for Philadelphia, to bring the 
ship round to New York. Froni that place he intended to 
Rail for Liverpool, where Jack Pugh and myself were to join 
him, sailing in a ship called the Columbia. This plan was 
changed, however, and we were sent round by sea to join 
the Sterling again, in .the port where I had first found her. 
As this was near three years after I had quitted the He.' 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 39 

Eer's so unceremoniously, I went to look for them. Their 
old neighbours told me they had been gone to Martinique, 
about a twelvemonth. This was the last intelligence I ever 
heard of them. Bill Swett was now put into the cabin, and 
Jack Pugh and myself were sent regularly to duty before 
the mast. We lived in the steerage, and had cabin fare ; 
but, otherwise, had the t'brtunes of foremast Jacks. Our 
freight was wheat in the lower hold, flour betwixt decks, and 
cotton on deck. The ship was very deep. Our crew was 
good, but both our mates were foreigners. 

Nothing occurred until we got near soundings, when it 
came on to blow very heavy from the southward and west- 
ward. The ship was running under a close-reefed main-top- 
sail and foresail, with a tremendous sea on. Just as night 
set in, one Harry, a Prussian, came on deck from his supper 
to relieve the wheel, and, fetching a lurch as he went aft, he 
brought up against the launch, and thence down against our 
grass fore-sheet, which had been so great a favourite in the 
London passages. This rope had been stretched above the 
deck load for a ridge rope, but, being rotten, it gave way 
when the poor Prussian struck it, and he went into the sea. 
We could do no more than throw him the sky-light, which 
was large ; but the ship went foaming ahead, leaving the 
poor fellow to his fate, in the midst of the hissing waters. 
Some of our people thought they saw poor Harry on the 
sky-light, but this could not have made much difference in 
such a raging sea. It was impossible to round-to, and as 
for a boat's living, it was out of the question. This was the 
first man I saw lost at sea, and, notwithstanding the severity 
of the gale, and the danger of the ship herself, the fate of 
this excellent man made us all melancholy. The captain 
felt it bitterly, as was evident from his manner. Still, the 
thing was unavoidable. 

We had begun to shorten sail early in the afternoon, and 
Harry was lost in the first dog-watch. A little later the 
larboard fore-sheet went, and the sail was split. All hands 
were called, and the rags were rolled up, and the gaskets 
passed. The ship now laboured so awfully that she began 
to leak. The swell was so high that we did not dare to 
come by the wind, and the seas would come in, just about 
the main chains, meet in board and travel out over her bows 



40 NED MYERS; OR, 

in a way to threaten everything that could be moved. Wc; 
lads were lashed at the pumps, and ordered to keep at work ; 
and to make matters worse, the wheat began to work its 
way into the pump- well. While things were in this state, 
the main-top-sail split, leaving the ship without a rag of sail 
on her. 

The Sterling loved to be under water, even in moderate 
weather. Many a time have I seen her send the water aft, 
into the quarter-deck scuppers, and, as for diving, no loon 
was quicker than she. Now, that she was deep and was 
rolling her deck-load to the water, it was time to think of 
lightening her. The cotton was thrown overboard as fast 
as we could, and what the men could not start the seas did. 
After a while we eased the ship sensibly, and it was well we 
did ; the wheat choking the pumps so often, that we had 
little opportunity for getting out the water. 

I do not now recollect at what hour of this fearful night, 
Captain Johnston shouted out to us all to " look out" — and 
" hold on." The ship was broaching-to. Fortunately she 
did this at a lucky moment, and, always lying-to well, 
though wet, we made much better weather on deck. The 
mizzen-staysail was now set to keep her from falling off 
into the troughs of the sea. Still the wind blew as hard as 
ever. First one sail, then another, got loose, and a hard 
time we had to keep the canvass to the yards. Then the 
foretopmast went, with a heavy lurch, and soon after the 
main, carrying with it the mizzen-top-gallant-mast. We 
owed this to the embargo, in my judgment, the ship's rig- 
ging having got damaged lying dry so long. We were all 
night clearing the wreck, and the men who used the hatch- 
ets, told us that the wind would cant their tools so violently 
that they sometimes struck on the eyes, instead of the edge 
The gale fairly seemed like a hard substance. 

We passed a fearful night, working at the pumps, anif 
endeavouring to take care of the ship. Next morning it 
moderated a little, and the vessel was got before the wind, 
which was perfectly fair. She could carry but little sail ; 
though we got up top-gallant-masts for top-masts, as soon as 
the sea would permit. About four, I saw the land myself, 
and pointed it out to the mate. It was Cape Clear, and we 



ALIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 41 

were heading for it as straight as we could go. We hauled 
up to clear it, and ran into the Irish channel. A large fleet 
of vessels had gathered in and near the chops of the chan- 
nel, in readiness to run into Liverpool by a particular day 
that had been named in the law opening the trade, and great 
had been the destruction among them. I do not remember 
the number of the ships we saw, but there must have been 
more than a hundred. It was afterwards reported, that near 
fifty vessels were wrecked on the Irish coast. Almost every 
craft we fell in with was more or less dismasted, and one 
vessel, a ship called the Liberty, was reported to have gone 
down, with every soul on board her. 

The weather becoming moderate, all hands of us went 
into Liverpool, the best way we could. The Sterling had 
good luck in getting up, though we lay some time in the 
river before we were able to get into dock. When we got 
out the cargo, we found it much damaged, particularly the 
wheat. The last was so hot that we could not bear our feet 
among it. We got it all out in a few days, when we wcnl 
into a dry dock, and repaired. 

This visit to Liverpool scattered our crew as if it had 
been so much dust in a squall. Most of our men were 
pressed, and those that were not, ran. But one man, us 
boys excepted, stuck by the ship. The chief mate — a 
foreigner, though of what country I never could discover — 
lived at a house kept by a handsome landlady. To oblige 
this lady, he ordered William Swett and myself to <5arry a 
bucket-full of salt, each, up to her house. The salt came 
out of the harness-cask, and we took it ashore openly, but 
we were stopped on the quay by a custom-house officer, who 
threatened to seize the ship. Such was the penalty for land- 
ing two buckets of Liverpool salt at Liverpool ! 

Captain Johnston had the matter explained, and he dis- 
charged the mate. Next day, the discharged man and the 
second mate were pressed. We got the last, who was a 
Swede, clear ; and the chief mate, in the end, made his 
escape, and found his way back to New York. Among 
those impressed, was Jack Pugh, who having been bound 
in London, we did not dare show his papers. The captain 
tried hard to get the boy clear, but without success. I rK)ver 
4* 



42 N £ D M Y £ R S ; O R , 

saw poor Jack after this ; though I learn he ran from the 
market-boat of tlie guard-ship, made his way back to Wis- 
casset, where he stayed some time, then shipped, and was 
lost at sea. 



CHAPTER IV. 

At length we got* a new crew, and sailed for home. We 
bad several passengers on board, masters of American ships 
who could go back themselves, but not carry their vessels with 
them, on account of certain liberties the last had taken with 
the laws. These persons were called " embargo captains." 

One of them, a Captain B , kept Captain Johnston's 

watch, and got so much into his confidence and favour, that 
he gave him the vessel in the end. The passage home was 
stormy and long, but offered nothing remarkable. A non- 
importation law had been passed during our absence, and 
our ship was seized in New York in consequence of having 
a cargo of English salt. We had taken the precaution, 
however, to have the salt cleared in Liverpool, and put afloat 
before the day named in the law, and got clear after a de- 
tention of two months. Salt rose so much in the interval, 
that the seizure turned out to be a good thing for the own- 
ers. 

While the ship was lying off the Battery, on her return 
from this voyage, and before she had hauled in, a boat came 
alongside with a young man in her in naval uniform. This 
was Cooper, who, in pulling across to go aboard his own 
vessel, had recognised our mast-heads, and now came to 
look at us. This was the last time I met him, until the year 
1843; or, for thirty-four years. 

We now loaded with naval stores, and cleared again foi 
Liverpool. Bill Swett did not make this voyage with us, 
the cook acting as steward. We had good passages out and 
home, experiencing no detention or accidents. In the spring 

of 1810, Captain Johnston gave the ship to Captain B :-, 

who carried us to Liverpool for the third time. Nothing 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 43 

took place this voyage either, worthy of being mentioned, 
the s.hip getting back in good season. We now took in a 
cargo of staves for Limerick. Off the Hook we were 
brought-to by the Indian sloop-of-war, one of the Halifax 
cruisers, a squadron in company. Several vessels were 
coming out at the same time, and among them were several 
of the clippers in the French trade. The Amiable Matilda 
and the Colt went to windward of the Englishmen as if the 
last had been at anchor ; but the Tameahmeah, when near- 
est to the English, got her yards locked in stays, and was 
captured. We saw all this, and felt, as was natural to men 
who beheld such things enacted at the mouth of their own 
port. Our passages both ways were pleasant, and nothing 
occurred out of the usual course. I fell in with a press- 
gang, however, in Limerick, which would have nabbed me, 
but for a party of Irishmen, who showed fight and frighten- 
ed the fellows so much that I got clear. Once before, I had 
been in the hands of these vermin in Liverpool, but Captain 
Johnston had got me clear by means of my indentures. I 
was acting as second-mate this voyage. 

On our return home, the ship was ordered to Charleston 
to get a cargo of yellow pine, under a contract. Captain 
B was still in command, my old master. Captain John- 
ston, being then at home, occupied in building a niew ship. 
I never saw this kind-hearted and indulgent seaman until 
the year 1842, when I made a journey to Wiscasset ex- 
pressly to see him. Captain B and myself were never 

very good friends, and I was getting to be impatient of his 
authority ; but I still stuck by the ship. 

We had an ordinary run to Charleston, and began to 
prepare for the reception of our cargo. At this time, there 
were two French privateers on the southern coast, that did 
a great deal of damage to our trade. One went into Sa- 
vannah, and got burned, for her pains ; and the other came 
into Charleston, and narrowly escaped the same fate. A 
mob collected — made a fire-raft, and came alongside of our 
ship, demanding some tar. To own the truth, though then 
clothed with all the dignity of a " Dicky,"* I liked the fun, 
and offered no resistance. Bill Swett had come in, in a ship 

* Second-mate. 



44 NEDMYERS;OR, 

called the United States ; and he was on board the Sterling, 
at the time, on a visit to me. We two, off hatches, and 
whipped a barrel of tar on deck ; which we turned over to 
the raftsmen, with our hearty good wishes for their success. 
All this was, legally, very wrong; but, I still think, it was 
not so very far from being morally just ; at least, as regards 
the privateersmen. The attempt failed, however, and those 
implicated were blamed a great deal more than they would 
have been, had they burned up the Frenchmen's eye-bolts. 
It is bad to fail, in a legal undertaking; but success is indis- 
pensable for forgiveness, to one that is illegal. 

That night. Captain B and the chief mate, came 

down upon me, like a gust, for having parted with the tar. 
They concluded their lecture, by threatening to work me 
up. Bill Swett was by, and he got his share of the dose. 
When we were left to ourselves, we held a council of war, 
about future proceedings. Our crew had run, to a man, the 
cook excepted, as usually happens, m Charleston ; and we 
brought in the cook, as a counsellor. This man told me, 
that he had overheard the captain and mate laying a plan to 
give me a threshing, as soon as I had turned in. Bill, now, 
frankly proposed that I should run, as well as himself; for 
he had already left his ship ; and our plan was soon laid. 
Bill went ashore, and brought a boat down under the bows 
of the ship, and I passed my dunnage into her, by going 
through the forecastle ; I then left the Sterling, for ever, 
never putting my foot on board of her again. I saw her, 
once ar twice, afterwards, at a distance, and she always 
looked like a sort of home to me. She was subsequently 
lost, on the eastern coast, Captain Johnston still owning her, 
and being actually on board her, though only as a passeager. 
I had been out in her twelve times, from country to country, 
besides several short runs, from port to port. She always 
seemed natural to me ; and I had got to know every tim- 
ber and stick about her. I felt more, in quitting this ship, 
than I did in quitting Halifax. This desertion was the third 
great error of my life. The first was, quitting those with 
whom I had been left by my father ; the second, abandoning 
my good friends, the Heizers ; and the third, leaving the 
Sterling. Had Captain Johnston been in the ship, I never 
should have dreamed of running. He was always kind to 



A LIFE BEFORE THE3 MAST. 45 

me i and, if he failed in justice, it was on the side of indul- 
gence. Had I continued with him, I make .30 doubt, my 
career would have been very difierent from what it has since 
turned out to be ; and, I fear, I must refer one of the very 
bad habits, that afterwards marred my fortunes, that of 
drinking too much, to this act. Still, it will be remembered, 
I was only nineteen, loved adventure, and detested Captain 
B 

After this exploit, Swett and I kept housed for a week. 
He then got into a ship called the President, and I into an- 
other called the Tontine, and both sailed for New York, 
where we arrived within a few days of each other. We 
now shipped together in a vessel called the Jane, bound to 
Limerick. This was near the close of the year 1811. Our 
passage out was tremendously bad, and we met with some 
serious accidents to our people. We were not far from the 
mouth of the Irish channel when the ship broached-to, in 
scudding under the foresail and main-top-sail, Bill Swett be- 
ing at the helm. The watch below ran on deck and hauled 
up the foresail, without orders, to prevent the ship from go- 
ing down stern foremost, the yards being square. As the 
ship came-to, she took a sea in on her starboard side, which 
drove poor Bill to leeward, under some water-casks and 
boards, beating in two of his ribs. Both mates were injur- 
ed also, and were off duty in consequence for several weeks. 
The plank sheer was ripped off the vessel from aft to amid- 
ships, as neatly as if it had been done by the carpenters. 
We could look down among the timbers the same as if the 
vessel were on the stocks. 

The men braced up the after-yards, and then the ship was 
lying-to under a close-reefed main-top-sail. After this, she 
did well enough. We now passed the hurt below, and got 
tarred canvass over the timber-heads, and managed to keep 
out the water. Next day we made sail for our port. It 
blowing too fresh to get a pilot, we ran into a roadstead at 
the mouth of the Shannon, and anchored with both bowers. 
We rode out the gale, and then went up to Limerick. Here 
all hands got well, and returned to duty. In due time, wo 
sailed for home in ballast. As we came into the Hook, we 
were hailed by a gun-boat, and heard of the " Little Em- 
bargo." 



16 NEI> MYERS; OK, 

The question now came up seriously between Bill and 
myself, what was best to be done. I was for going to Wis- 
casset, like two prodigals, own our fault, and endeavour to 
amend. Bill thought otherwise. Now we were cast ashore, 
without employment, he thought it more manly to try and 
shift for ourselves. He had an uncle who was a captain of 
artillery, and who was then stationed on Governor's Island, 
and we took him into our councils. This gentleman treated 
us kindly, and kept us with him on the island for two days. 
Finding his nephew bent on doing something for himself, he 
gave us a letter to Lt. Trenchard, of the navy, by whom 
we were both shipped for the service. Swett got a master's- 
mate's berth, and I was offered the same, but felt too much 
afraid of myself to accept it. I entered the navy, then, for 
the first time, as a common Jack. 

This was a very short time before war was declared, and 
a large flotilla of gun-boats was getting ready for the New 
York station. Bill was put on board of No. 112, and I was 
ordered to No. 107, Sailing-Master Costigan. Soon after, 
we were all employed in fitting the Essex for sea ; and while 
thus occupied the Declaration of War actually arrived. On 
this occasion I got drunk, for the second time in my life. A 
quantity of whiskey was started into a tub, and all hands 
drank to the success of the conflict. A little upset me, then, 
nor would I have drunk anything, but for the persuasions 
of some of my Wiscasset acquaintances, of- whom there 
were several in the ship. I advise all young men, who feel 
no desire to drink, to follow their own propensities, and not 
to yield themselves up, body and soul, to the thoughtless 
persuasions of others. There is no real good-fellowship in 
swilling rum and whiskey ; but the taste, once acquired, is 
hard to cure. I never drank much, as to quantity, but a 
little filled me with the love of mischief, and that little served 
to press me down for all the more valuable years of my life ; 
valuable, as to the advancement of my worldly interests, 
though I can scarcely say I began really to live, as a crea- 
ture of God's should live, to honour his name and serve his 
ends, until the year 1839. 

After the Essex was fitted out, the flotilla cruised in the 
Sound, and was kept generally on the look-out, about the 
waters of New York. Towards the end of the season, ouj 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MA.ST. 41 

bO!.t, with several others, was lying abreast of the Yard, 
when orders came off to meet the Yard Commandei, Cap- 
tain Chauncey, on the wharf. Here, this officer addressed 
us, and said he was about to proceed to Lake Ontario, to 
take command, and asking who would volunteer to go with 
Lim. This was agreeable news to us, for we hated the gun- 
boats, and would go anywhere to be quit of them. Every 
man and boy volunteered. We got twenty-four hours' lib- 
erty, with a few dollars in money, and when this scrape was 
over every man returned, and we embarked in a sloop for 
Albany. Our draft contained near 140 men, and was com- 
manded by Mr. Mix, then a sailing-master, but who died a 
commander a few years since. Messrs. Osgood and Malla- 
by were also with us, and two midshipmen, viz : Messrs. 
Sands and Livingston. The former of these young gentle- 
men is now a commander, but I do not know what became 
of Mr. Livingston. We had also two master's-mates, 
Messrs. Bogardus and Emory. 

On reaching Albany, we paid a visit to the Governor, 
gave him three cheers, got some good cheer in return, and 
were all stowed in wagons, a mess in each, before his door. 
We now took to our land tacks, and a merry time we had 
of it. Our first day's run was to a place called Schenec- 
tady, and here the officers found an empty house, and 
berthed us all together, fastening the doors. This did not 
suit our notions of a land cruise, and we began to grumble. 
There was a regular hard horse of a boatswain's-mate with 
us, of the name of McNally. This man had been in the 
service a long time, and was a thorough man-of-war's man. 
He had collected twenty-four of us, whom he called his 
' disciples,' and shamed am I to say, I was one. McNally 
called all hands on the upper deck, as he called it, that is to 
say, in the garret, and made us a speech. He said this was 
no way to treat volunteers, and proposed that we should 
" unship the awning." We rigged pries, and, first singing 
out, " stand from under," hove one half of the roof into the 
street, and the other into the garden. We then gave three 
cheers at our success. The officers now came down, and 
gave us a lecture. But we made out so good a case, that 
they let us run till morning, when every soul was back and 
mustered in the wagons. In this way we went through the 



48 R£I>MY£KS;OR, 

country, cracking our jokes, laughing, and noting all oddi* 
ties that crossed our course. I believe we were ten or 
twelve days working our way through the state, to Oswego. 
At Onondago Lake we got into boats, and did better than in 
the wagons. At a village on the lake shore, the people 
were very bitter against us, and we had some difficulty. 
The word went among us they were Scotch, from the Cana- 
das, but of this I know nothing. We heard in the morning, 
however, thfit most of our officers were in limbo, and we 
crossed and marched up a hill, intending to burn, sink, and 
destroy, if they were not liberated. Mischief was prevented 
by the appearance of Mr. Mix, with the other gentlernen, 
and we pushed off without coming to blows. 

It came on to rain very hard, and we fetched up at a soli- 
tary house in the woods, and tried to get quarters. These 
were denied us, and we were told to shift for ourselves. 
This, we did in a large barn, where we made good stowage 
until morning. In the night, we caught the owner coming 
ubout with a lantern to set fire to the barn, and we carried 
him down to a boat, and lashed him there until morning, 
letting the rain wash all the combustible matter out of him. 
That day we reached Oswego Falls, where a party of us 
were stationed some time, running boats over, and carrying 
stores across the portage. 

When everything reached, Oswego, all hands turned to, 
to equip some lake craft th'at had been bought for the ser- 
vice. These were schooners, salt droggers, of about sixty 
or eighty tons. All we did at Oswego, however, was to 
load these vessels, some six or eight in all, and put to sea. 
I went off in one of the first, a vessel called the Fair Ame- 
rican. Having no armaments, we sailed in the night, to 
avoid John Bull's cruisers, of which there were several out 
at' the time. As we got in with some islands, at no great 
distance from Sackett's Harbour, we fell in with the Oneida's 
launch, which was always kept in the offing at night, row- 
ing, or sailing, guard. Bill Swett was in her, and we then 
met for the first time on fresh waters, I now learned that 
Jack Mallet was on the station, too, whom I had not fallen 
in with since we parted at Wiscasset, more than three years 
before. A fortnight later I found him, acting as boat- 



A lilFE BEFORE THE MAST. 49 

sw£un of the Julia, Sailing-Master Trant, a craft I have every 
reason to remember as long as I shall live. 

The day after I reached the harbour, I was ordered on 
board the Scourge. This vessel was English-built, and had 
been captured before the war, and conden/ned, for violating 
the revenue laws, under the name of the Lord Nelson, by 
the Oneida 16, Lt. Com. Woolsey — the only cruiser we then 
had on the lake. This craft was unfit for her duty, but time 
pressed, and no better offered. Bulwarks had been raised 
on her, and she mounted Cight sixes, in regular broadside. 
Her accommodations wer-i Liad enough, and she was so ten- 
der, that we could do little or nothing with her in a blow. 
It was often prognosticated that she would prove our coffin. 
Besides Mr. Osgood, who was put in command of this vessel, 
we had Mr. Bogardus, and Mr. Livingston, as officers. We 
must have had about forty-five souls on board, all told. We 
did not get this schooner out that season, however. 

The commodore arriving, and an expedition against Kings- 
'on being in the wind, a party of us volunteered from the 
Scourge, to go on board the Oneida. This was in Novem- 
ber, rather a latish month for active service on those waters. 
The brig went out in company with the Conquest, Hamilton, 
Governor Tompkins, Pert, Julia, and Growler, schooners. 
These last crat't were all merchantmen, mostly without quar- 
ters, and scarcely fit for the duty on which they were em- 
ployed. The Oneida was a warm little brig, of sixteen 24 
lb. carronades, but as dull as a transport. She had been 
built to cross the bars of the American harbours, and would 
not travel to windward. 

We went off the False Ducks, where we made the Royal 
George, a ship the English had built expressly to overlay 
the Oneida, two or three years before, and which was big 
enough to eat us. Her officers, however, did not belong to 
the Royal Navy ; and we made such a show of schooners, 
that, though she had herself a vessel or two in company, she 
did not choose to wait for us. We chased her into the Bay 
of Quinte, and there we lost her in the darkness. Next 
morning, however, we saw her at anchor in the channel that 
eads to Kingston. A general chase now commenced, and 
we ran down into the bay, and engaged the ship and batte- 
ries, as close as we conM well get. The firing was sharp 
5 



60 N K D M Y E R S ; O R, 

on both sides, and it lasted a great while. I was stationed 
at a gun, as her second captain, and was too busy to seo 
much; but I know we kept our piece speaking as fast as we 
could, for a good bit. We drove the Royal George from a 
second anchorage, quite up to a berth abreast of the town ; 
and it was said that her people actually deserted her, at one 
time. We gave her nothing but round-shot from our gun, 
and these we gave her with all our hearts. Whenever we 
noticed the shore, a stand of grape was added. 

I know nothing of the damage done the enemy. We had 
the best of it, so far as I could see ; and I think, if the wea- 
ther had not compelled us to haul off, something serious 
might have been done. As it was, we beat out with flying 
colours, and anchored a few miles from the light. 

These were the first shot I ever saw fired in anger. Our 
brig had one man killed and three wounded, and she was 
somewhat injured aloft. One shot came in not far from my 
gun, and scattered lots of cat-tails, breaking in the ham- 
mock-cloths. This was the nearest chance I ran, that day ; 
and, on the whole, I think we escaped pretty well. On our 
return to the harbour, the ten Scourges who had volun- 
teered for the cruise, returned to their own schooner. None 
of us were hurt, though all of us were half frozen, the water 
freezing as fast as it fell. 

Shortly after both sides went into winter quarters, and 
both sides commenced building. We launched a ship called 
the Madison, about this time, and we laid the keel of an- 
other, that was named the Pike. What John Bull was 
about is more than I can say, though the next season 
showed he had not been idle. The navigation did not abso- 
lutely close, notwithstanding, until December. 

Our vessels were moored about the harbour, and we were 
all frozen in, as a matter of course. Around each craft, 
however, a space was kept cut, to form a sort of ditch, in 
order to prevent being boarded. Parties were regularly sta- 
tioned to defend the Madison,. and, in the days, we worked 
at her rigging, and at that of the Pike, in gangs. Our lar- 
board guns were landed, and placed in a block-house, while 
he starboard were kept mounted. My station was that of 
captain of one of the guns that remained. 

The winter lasted more than four months, and we madt! 



A L I F E B E F O R E Til E M A S T. 51 

good times of it. We often went after wood, and occasion 
ally we knocked over a deer. We had a target out on the 
lake, and this we practised on, making ourselves rather 
expert cannoneers. Now and then they rowsed us out on a 
false alarm, but I know of no serious attempt's being made 
by the enemy, to molest us. 

The lake was fit to navigate about the middle of April. 
Somewhere about the 20th* the soldiers began to embark, 
to the number of 1700 men. A com|)any came on board 
the Scourge, and they filled us chock-a-block. It came on 
to blow, and we were obliged to keep these poor fellows, 
cramped as we were, most of the time on deck, exposed to 
rain and storm. On the 25th we got out, rather a showy 
force altogether, though there was not much service in our 
small craft. We had a ship, a brig, and twelve schooners, 
fourteen sail in all. The next morning we were off Little 
York, having sailed with a fair wind. All h':inds anchored 
about a mile from the beach. I volunteered o go in a boat, 
to carry soldiers ashore. Each of us brought across the 
lake two of these boats in tow, but we had lost one of ours, 
dragging her after us in a staggering breeze. I got into 
the one that was left, and we put half our soldiers in her, 
and shoved off. We had little or no order in landing, each 
boat pulling as hard as she could. The English blazed 
away at us, concealed in a wood, and our men fired back 
again from the boat. I never was more disappointed in 
men, than I was in the soldiers. They were mostly tall, 
pale-looking Yankees, half dead with sickness and the bad 
weather — so mealy, indeed, that half of them could not take 
their grog, which, by this time, I had got to think a bad 
sign. As soon as they got near the enemy, however, they 
became wide awake, pointed out to each other where to aim, 
and many of them actually jumped into the water, in order 
to get the sooner ashore.' No men could have behaved bet- 
ter, for I confess frankly I did not like the work at all. It 
is no fun to pull in under a sharp fire, with one's back to 
nis enemy, and nothing but an oar to amuse himself with. 
The shot flew pretty thick, and two of our oars were split. 
This was all done with musketry, no heavy guns being used 

* 22d. — Editor. 



52 N£DMY£Ils;OR, 

at this place. [ landed twice in this way, but the dangef 
was principally in the fii'st affair. There was fighting up 
on the bank, but it gave us no trouble. Mr. Livingston 
commanded the boat. 

When we got back to the schooner, we found her lifting 
her anchors. Several of the smaller craft were now ordered 
up the bay, to open on the batteries nearer to the town. We 
were the third from the van, and we all anchored within 
canister range. We heard a magazine blow up, as we stood 
in, and this brought three cheers from us. We now had 
some sharp work with the batteries, keeping up a steady fire. 
The schooner ahead of us had to cut, and she shifted her 
berth outside of us. The leading schooner, however, held 
on. In the midst of it all, we heard cheers down the line, 
and presently we saw the commodore pulling in among us, 
in his gig. He came on board us, and we greeted him with 
three cheers. While he was on the quarter-deck, a hot shot 
struck the upper part of the after-port, cut all the boarding- 
pikes adrift from the main-boom, and wounded a man named 
Lemuel Bryant, who leaped from his quarters and fell at my 
feet. His clothes were all on fire when he fell, and, after 
putting them out, the commodore himself ordered me to pass 
him below. The old man spoke encouragingly to us, and a 
little thing took place that drew his attention to my crew. 
Two of the trucks of the gun we were fighting had been 
carried away, and I determined to shift over its opposite. 
My crew were five negroes, strapping fellows, and as strong 
as jackasses. The gun was called the Black Joke. Shoving 
the disabled gun out of the way, these chaps crossed the 
deck, unhooked the breechings and gun-tackles, raised the 
piece from the deck, and placed it in the vacant port. The 
commodore commended us, and called out, " that is quick 
work, my lads !" In less than three minutes, I am certain, 
we were playing on the enemy with the fresh gun. 

As for the old man, he pulled through the fire as coolly 
as if it were only a snow-balling scrape, though many a pooi 
fellow lost the number of his' mess in the boats that day 
When he left us, we cheered him again. He had not left 
us long, before we heard an awful explosion on shore. Stones 
as big as my two fists fell on board of us, though nobody 
Was hurt by them. We cheered, thinking some dire cala- 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST 53 

mity had befallen the enemy. The firing ceased soon after 
this explosion, though one English gun held on, under the 
bank, for some little time. 



CHAPTER V. 

We did not know the cause of the last explosion, until 
after the firing ceased. I had seen an awful black cloud, 
and objects in the air that I took for men ; but little did we 
imagine the explosion had cost us so dear. Our schooner 
lay at no great distance from the common lauding, and no 
sooner were we certain of the success of the day, than Mr. 
Osgood ordered his boat's crew called away, and he landed. 
As I belonged to the boat, I had an early opportunity of 
enteringthe town. " 

We found the place deserted. With the exception of our 
own men, I found but one living being in it. This was an 
old woman whom I discovered stowed away in a potatoe 
locker, in the government house. I saw tables set, and 
eggs in the cups, but no inhabitant. Our orders were of 
the most severe kind, not to plur ^er, and we did not touch 
a morsel of food even. The liquor, however, was too much 
for our poor natures, and a parcel of us had broke bulk in 
a better sort of grocery, when some ofiicers came in and 
stove the casks. I made sail, and got out of the company. 
The army had gone in pursuit of the enemy, with the ex- 
ception of a few riflemen, who, being now at liberty, found 
their way into the place. 

I ought to feel ashamed, and do feel ashamed of what 
occurred that night; but I must relate it, lest I feel more 
ashamed for concealing the truth. We had spliced the 
main-brace pretty freely throughout the day, and the pull I 
got in the grocery just made me ripe for mischief. When 
we got aboard the schooner again, we found a canoe that 
had drifted ath wart-hawse and had been secured. My 
gun's crew, the Black Jokers, wished to have some fun in 
the town, and they proposed to me to take a cruise ashore. 
5* 



54 NBDMYERS;0 1l, 

We had few officers on board, and the boatswain, a boai 
swain's mate in fact, consented to let us leave. We all 
went ashore in this canoe, then, and were soon alongside 
of a wharf. On landing, we were near a large store, 
and looking in at a window, we saw a man sitting asleep, 
with a gun in the hollow of his arm. His head was on the 
counter, and there was a lump burning. One of the blacks 
pitched through the window, and was on him in a momr nt. 
The rest followed, and we made him a prisoner. The poor 
fellow said he had come to look after his property, and he 
was told no one would hurt him. My blacks now began to 
look about them, and to help themselves to such articles as 
they thought they wanted. I confess I helped myself to 
some tea and sugar, nor will I deny that I was in such a 
state as to think the whole good fun. We carried otF one 
canoe load, and even returned for a second. Of course 
such an exploit could not have been effected without letting 
all in the secret share; and one boat-load of plunder was 
not enough. The negroes began to drink, however, and I 
was sober enough to see the consequences, if they were 
left ashore any longer. Some riflemen came in, too, and 1 
succeeded in getting my jokers away. 

The recklessness of sailors may be seen in our conduct. 
All we received for our plunder was some eight or ten gal- 
Ions of whiskey, when we got back to the harbour, and this 
at the risk of being flogged through the fleet I It seemed to 
us to be a scrape, and that was a sufficient excuse for diso- 
beying orders, and for committing a crime. For myself, 1 
was influenced more by the love of mischief, and a weak 
desire to have it said I was foremost in such an exploit, than 
from any mercenary motive. Notwithstanding the severity 
of the orders, and one or two pretty sharp examples of pun- 
ishment inflicted by the commodore, the Black Jokers were 
not the only plunderers ashore that night. One master's- 
mate had the buttons taken off* his coat, for stealing a feather 
bed, besides being obliged to carry it back again. Of course 
he was a shippea master's-mate. 

I was ashore every day while the squadron remained in 
Jhe port. Our schooner never shifted her berth from the 
last one she occupied in the battle, and that was pretty well 
up the bay. I paid a visit to the gun that had troubled U3 



A LIFE BEFORE TIIK MAST. 55 

all so much, and which we could not silence, for it was 
under a bank, near the landing-place. It was a long French 
eighteen, and did better service, that day, than any other 
piece of John Bull's. I think it hulled us several times. 

I walked over the ground where the explosion took place. 
It was a dreadful sight ; the dead being so mutilated that it 
was scarcely possible to tell their colour. I saw gun-barrels 
bent nearly double. I think we saw Sir Roger Sheafe, the 
British General, galloping across the field, by himself, a few 
minutes before the explosion. At all events, we saw a 
mounted officer, and fired at him. He galloped up to the 
government-house, dismounted, went in, remained a short 
time, and then galloped out of town. All this I saw ; and 
the old woman in the potato-locker told me the general had 
been in the house a short time before we landed. Her account 
agreed with the appearance of the officer I saw ; though I 
will not pretend to be certain it was General Sheafe. 

I ought to mention the kindness of the commodore to tht 
poor of York. As most of the inhabitants came back to 
their habitations the next day, the poor were suffering for 
food. Our men were ordered to roll barrels of salt meat 
and barrels of bread to their doors, from the government 
stores that fell into our hands. We captured an immense 
amount of these stores, a portion of which we carried away. 
We sunk many guns in the lake ; and as for the powder, 
that had taken care of itself. Among other things we took, 
was the body of an English officer, preserved in rum, which, 
they said, was General Brock's. I saw it hoisted out of the 
Duke of Gloucester, the man-of-war brig we captured, at 
Sackett's Harbour, and saw the body put in a fresh cask. I 
am ashamed to say, that some of our men were inclined to 
drink the old rum. 

We burned a large corvette, that was nearly ready for 
launching, and otherwise did the enemy a good deal of 
harm. The inhabitants that returned were very submissive, 
and thankful for what they received. As for the man of 
he red store, I never saw him after the night he was plun- 
dered, nor was anything ever said of the scrape. 

Our troops had lost near three hundred men in the attack 
the wounded included ; and as a great many of these green 
s«>.dlers were now sick from exposure, the army was much 



56 NEDMY£RS;OK, 

reducod in force. We took the troops on board on the Ist 
of May, but could not sail, on account of a gale, until the 
8th, which made the matter worse. Then we got undei 
way, and crossed the lake, landing the soldiers a few miles 
to the eastward of Fort Niagara. Our schooner now went 
to the Harbour, along with the commodore, though some of 
the craft remained near the head of the lake. Here we took 
in another lot of soldiers, placed two more large batteaux in 
tow, and sailed for the army again. We had good passages 
both ways, and this duty was done within a few days. While 
at the Harbour, I got a message to go and visit Bill Swett, 
but the poor fellow died without my being able to see him. 
I heard he was hurt at York, but never could come at the 
truth. 

On the 27th May, the army got into the batteaux, formed 
in two divisions, and commenced pulling towards the mouth 
of the Niagara. The morning was foggy, with a light wind, 
and the vessels getting under way, kept company with the 
boats, a little outside of them. The schooners were closest 
in, and some of them opened on Fort George, while others 
kept along the coast, scouring the shore with grape and ca- 
nister as they moved ahead. The Scourge came to an an- 
chor a short distance above the place selected for the landing, 
and sprung her broadside to the shore. We now kept up a 
steady fire with grape and canister, until the boats had got 
in-shore and were engaged with the enemy, when we threw 
round-shot, over the heads of our own men, upon the Eng- 
lish. As soon as Colonel Scott was ashore, we sprung our 
broadside upon a two-gun battery that had been pretty busy, 
and we silenced that among us. This affair, for our craft, 
was nothing like that of York, though I was told the vessels 
nearer the river had warmer berths of it. We had no one 
hurt, though we were hulled once or twice. A little rigging 
was cut ; but we set this down as light work compeared to 
what the old Black Joke had seen that day month. There 
was a little sharp fighting ashore, but our men were too 
strong for the enemy, when they could fairly get their feet 
on solid ground. 

Just after we had anchored, Mr. Bogardus was sent aloft 
to ascertain if any enemy were to be seen. At first he found 
nobody ; but, after a little while, he called out to have my 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 57 

gun fired at a little thicket of brushwood that lay on an in- 
clined plain, near the water. Mr. Osgood came and ele- 
«rated the gun, and I touched it off. We had been looking 
out for the blink of muskets, which was one certain guide to 
find a soldier ; and the moment we sent this grist of grape 
and canister into those bushes, the place lighted up as if a 
thousand muskets were there. We then gave the chaps the 
remainder of our broadside. We peppered that wood well, 
and did a good deal of harm to the troops stationed at the 
place. 

The wind blew on shore, and began to increase ; and the 
commodore now threw out a signal for the boats to land, to 
take care of the batteaux that were thumping on the beach, 
and then for their crews to assist in taking care of the 
wounded. Of course I went in my own boat, Mr. Bogardus 
having charge of her. We left the schooner, just as we 
quitted our guns, black with powder, in our shirts and trow- 
sers, though we took the precaution to carry our boarding- 
belts,- with a brace of pistols each, and a cutlass. On land- 
ing, we first hauled up the boats, taking some dead and 
wounded men out of them, and laying them on the beach. 

We were now ordered to divide ourselves into groups of 
three, and go over the ground, pick up the wounded, and 
carry them to a large house that had been selected as a hos- 
pital. My party consisted of Bill Southard, Simeon Grant, 
and myself, we being messmates. The first man we fell in 
with, was a young English soldier, who was seated on the 
bank, quite near the lake. He was badly hurt, and sat 
leaning his head on his hands. He beg-^ed for water, and 
I took his cap down to the lake and filled it, giving him a 
drink ; then washing his face. This revived him, and he 
offered us his canteen, in which was some excellent Jamaica. 
To us chaps, who got nothing better than whiskey, this was 
a rare Ireat, and we emptied the remainder of his half pint, 
at a pull a-piece. After tapping this rum, we carried the 
poor lad up to the house, and turned him over to the doctors. 
We found the rooms filled with wounded already, and the 
American and English doctors hard at work on them. 

As we left the hospital, we agreed to get a canteen a-piece. 
«nd go round among the dead, and fill them with Jamaica. 
When our canteens were about a third full, we camo upon a 



58 N E D M V E K S ; O R 

young American rifleman, who was lying under an apple 
tree. He was hit in the head, and was in a very bad way. 
We were all three much struck with the appearance of this 
young man, and I now remember him as one of the hand- 
somest youths I had ever seen. His wound did not bleed, ^ 
though I thought the brains were oozing out, and I felt so 
much sympathy for him, that I washed his hurt with the 
rum. I fear I did him harm, but my motive was good. Bill 
Southard ran to find a surgeon, of whom several were 
operating out on the field. The young man kept saying 
" no use," and he mentioned " father and mother," " Ver- 
mont." He even gave me the names of his parents, but I 
was too much in the wind, from the use of rum, to remem- 
ber them. We might have been half an hour with this 
young rifleman, busy on him most of the time, when he 
murmured a few words, gave me one of the sweetest smiles 
I ever saw on a man's face, and made no more signs of life. 
I kept at work, notwithstanding, until Bill got back with the 
doctor. The latter cast an eye on the rifleman, pronounced 
him dead, and coolly walked away. 

There was a bridge, in a sort of a swamp, that we had 
fired on for some time, and we now moved down to it, just 
to see what we had done. We found a good many dead, 
and several horses in the mire, but no wounded. We kept 
emptying canteens, as we went along, until our own would 
hold no more. On our return from the bridge, we went to 
a brook in order to mix some grog, and then we got a full 
view of the offing. Not a craft was to be seen ! Every- 
thing had weighed and disappeared. This discovery knocked 
us all a-back, and we were quite at a loss how to pro- 
ceed. We agreed, however, to pass through a bit of woods, 
and gel into the town, it being now quite late in the day. 
There we knew we should find the army, and might get 
tidings of the fleet. The battle-ground was now nearly de- 
serted, and to own the truth we were, all three, at least two 
sheets in the wind. Still I remember everything, for my 
stomach would never allow me' to get beastly drunk ; it re- 
jecting any very great quantity of liquor. As we went 
through the wood, open pine trees, we came across an offi- 
cer lying dead, with one leg over his horse, which was dead 
also. I went up to the body, turned it over, and examined 



A L1F£ BEFORE THE MAST. 59 

It for a canteen, but found none. We made a few idle re 
marks, and proceeded. 

In quitting the place, I led the party ; and, as we went 
through a little thicket, I heard female voices. This startled 
me a little ; and, on looking round, I saw a white femah» 
dress, belonging to a person who was evidently endeavour 
ing to conceal herself from us. I was now alone, and walked 
up to the women, when I found two ; one, a lady, in dres? 
and manner, and the other a person that I have always sup 
posed was her servant. The first was in white ; the last in 
a dark calico. They were both under thirty, judging from 
their looks ; and the lady was exceedingly well-looking 
They were much alarmed ; and, as I came up, the lad} 
asked me if I would hurt her. I told her no ; and that no 
person should harm her, while she remained with us. This 
relieved her, and she was able to give an account of he 
errand on the field of battle. Our looks, half intoxicated, 
and begrimed with the smoke of a battle, as we were,, 
certainly were enough to alarm her ; but I do not think one 
of the three would have hesitated about fighting for a female, 
that they thus found weeping, in this manner, in the open 
field. The maid was crying also. Simeon Grant, and 
Southard, did make use of some improper language, at first ; 
but I brought them up, and they said they were sorry, and 
would go all lengths, with me, to protect the women. The 
fact was, these men supposed we had fallen in with common 
camp followers ; but I had seen too much of officers' wives, 
in my boyhood, not to know that this was one. 

The lady then told her story. She had just come from 
Kingston, to join her husband ; having arrived but a few 
hours before. She did not see her husband, but she had 
heard he was left wounded on the field ; and she had come 
out in the hope of finding him. She then described him, as 
an officer mounted, with a particular dress, and inquired if 
we had met with any such person, on the field. We told 
ner of the horseman we had just left ; and led her back to 
the spot. The moment the lady saw the body, she threw 
herself on it, and began to weep and mourn over it, in a very 
touching manner. The maid, too, was almost as bad as 
the mistress. We were all so much aflfected, in spite of the 
rum, that, I believe, all three of us shed tears. We said all 



60 NEDMYERS;OR, 

we could, tO console her, and swore we would stand by her 
until she was safe back among her friends. 

It was a good bit before we could persuade the lady to 
quit her husband's body. She took a miniature from his 
neck, and I drew his purse and watch from him and handed 
them to her. She wanted me to keep the purse, but this we 
all three refused, up and down. We had hauled our manly 
tacks aboard, and had no thoughts of plunder. Even the 
maid urged us to keep the money, but we would have no- 
thing to do with it. I shall freely own my faults ; I hope I 
shall be believed when I relate facts that show I am not 
altogether without proper feelings. 

The officer had been hit somewhere about the hip, and 
the horse must have been killed by another grape-shot, fired 
from the same gun. We laid the body of the first over in 
such a manner as to get a good look at him, but we did not 
draw the leg from under the horse.* 

When we succeeded in persuading the lady to quit her 
husband's body, we shaped our course for the light-house. 
Glad were we three tars to see the mast-heads of the ship- 

* When Myers related this circumstance, I remembered that a Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Meyers had been killed in the aifair at Fort George, 
something in the way here mentioned. On consulting the American 
official account, I found that my recollection was just, so far as this — 
a Lieutenant-Colonel Meyers was reported as wounded and taken 
prisoner. I then recollected to have been present at a conversation 
between Major-General Lewis and Major Baker, his adjutant-general, 
shortly after the battle, in which the question arose whether the same 
shot had killed Colonel Meyers that killed his horse. General Lewis 
thought not ; Major Baker thought it had. On my referring to the 
official account as reporting this gentleman to have been only wound- 
ed, I was told it was a mistake, he having been killed. Now for the 
probabilities. Both Ned and his sister understand that their father 
was slain in battle, about this time. Ned thought this occurred at 
Waterloo, but the sister thinks not. Neither knew anything of the 
object of my inquiry. The sister says letters were received from Que- 
bec in relation to the father's personal effects. It would be a strange 
thing, if Ned had actually found his .own father's body on the field, 
in this extraordinary manner ! I pretend not to say it is so ; but it 
must be allowed it looks very much like it. The lady may have been 
a wife, married between the years 1796 and 1813, when Mr. Meyers 
had got higher rank. This occurrence was related by Ned without 
the slightest notion of the inference thatl have here drawn — Editor. 



A LIF£ B£FOR£ THE MAST. 61 

pmg in the river, as we came near the banks of the Niagara. 
The house at the light was empty ; but, on my hailing, a wo- 
man's voice answered from the cellar. It was an old wo- 
man who had taken shelter from shot down in the hold, the 
rest of the family having slipped and run. We now got 
some milk for the lady, who continued in tears most of the 
time. Sometimes she would knock off crying for a bit, 
when she seemed to have some distrust of us ; but, on the 
whole, we made very good weather in company. After 
staying about half an hour at the light-house, we left it for 
the town, my advice to the lady being to put herself under 
the protection of some of our officers. I told her if the 
news of what had happened reached the commodore, she 
might depend on her husband's being buried with the honours 
of war, and said such other things to comfort her as came 
to the mind of a man who had been sailing so near the 
wind. 

I forgot to relate one part of the adventure. Before we 
had got fairly clear of the woods, we fell in with four of 
Forsyth's men, notoriously the wickedest corps in the army. 
These fellows began to crack their jokes at the expense of 
the two females, and we came near having a brush with 
them. When we spoke of our pistols, and of our determi- 
nation to use them, before we would let our convoy come 
to harm, these chaps laughed at our pop-guns, and told us 
they had such things as ' rifles.' This was true enough, 
and had we come to broadsides, I make no doubt they 
would have knocked us over like so many snipes. I began 
to reason with them, on the impropriety of offending re- 
snectable females ; and one of the fellows, who was a kind of 
a corporal, or something of that sort, shook my hand, said 
I was right, and offered to be friends. So we spliced the 
main-brace, and parted. Glad enough was the lady to be 
rid of them so easily. ~ In these squalls 'she would bring up 
in her tears, and then when all went smooth again, she 
would break out afresh. 

After quitting the light, we made the best of our way for 

the town. Just as we reached it, we fell in with a party of 

soldier-officers, and we turned the lady and her woman over 

to their care. These gentlemen said a good word in our 

6 



63 NED M Y E R S ; OR, 

favour, and here we parted company with our convoy, 1 
never hearing, or seeing, anything of either afterwards. 

By this time it was near dark, and Bill Southard and ^ 
b«igan to look out for the Scourge. She was anchored in 
tKe river, with the rest of the fleet, and we went down upon 
a wharf to make a signal for a boat. On the way we saw 
a woman crying before a watch-maker's shop, and a party 
ot Forsyth's close by. On enquiry, we learned these fel- 
lows had threatened to rob her shop. We had been such 
defenders of the sex, that we could not think of deserting 
this woman, and we swore we would stand by her, too. 
We should have had a skirmish here, I do believe, had no< 
one or two rifle officers hove in sight, when the whole party 
made sail from us. We turned the woman over to these 
gentlemen, who said, " ay, there are some of our vagabonds, 
again." One of them said it would be better to call in their 
parties, and before we reached the water we heard the bu 
gle sounding the recall. 

They had given us up on board the schooner. A repor; 
of some Indians being out had reached her, and we three 
were set down as scalped. Thank God, I've got all the 
hair on my head yet, and battered as my old hulk has got 
to be, and shattered as are my timbers, it is as black as a 
raven's wing at this moment. This, my old ship-mate, who 
is logging this yarn, says he thinks is a proof my mother 
was a French Canadian, though such is not the fact, as it 
has been told to me. 

Those riflemen were regular scamps. Just before we 
went down to the wharf, we saw dne walking sentinel be- 
fore the door of a sort of barracks. On drawing near and 
asking what was going on inside, we were told we had no- 
thing to do with their fun ashore, that we might look in at a 
window, however, but should not go in. We took him at 
his word ; a merry" scene it was inside. The English offi- 
cers' dunnage had been broken into, and there was a party 
of the corps strutting about in uniform coats and feathers. 
We thought it best to give these dare-devils a berth, and so 
we letl them. One was never safe with them on the field 
of battle, friend or enemy. 

We met a large party of marines on the wharf, marching 
up under Major Smith. They were going to protect the 



A LIFE BFORE THE MAST. 63 

people of the town from further mischief. Mr. Osgood was 
glad enough to see us, and we got plenty of praise for what 
we had done with the women. As for the canteens, we had 
to empty them, after treating the crew of the boa* hat was 
sent to take us off. I did not enter the towh after that 
night. 

We lay some time in the Niagara, the commodo/e going 
to the harbour to get the Pike ready. Captain Crane took 
the rest of us off Kingston, where we were joined by the 
commodore, and made sail again for the Niagara. Here 
Colonel Scott embarked with a body of troops, and we went 
to Burlington Bay to carry the heights. They were found 
to be too strong; and the men, after landing, returned to the 
vessels. We then went to York, again, and took possession 
of the place a second time. Here we destroyed several 
boats, and stores, set fire to the barracks, and did the enemy 
a good deal of damage otherwise ; after which we left the 
place. Two or three days later we crossed the lake and 
landed the soldiers, again, at Fort Niagara. 

Early in August, while we were still in the river. Sir 
James Yeo hove in sight with two ships, two brigs, and two 
schooners. We had thirteen sail in all, such as they were, 
and immediately got under way, and manceuvred for the 
weather-gauge. All the enemy's vessels had regular quar- 
ters, and the ships were stout craft. Our squadron sailed 
very unequally, some being pretty fast, and others as dull 
as droggers. Nor were we more than half fitted out. On 
board the Scourge the only square-sail we had, was made 
out of an English marquee we had laid our hands on at 
York, the first time we were there. I ought to say, too, 
that we got two small brass guns at York, four-pounders, I 
believe, which Mr. Osgood clapped into our two spare ports 
forward. This gave us ten guns in all, sixes and fours. 
I remember that Jack Mallet laughed at us heartily for the 
fuss we made with our pop-guns, as he called them, while 
we were working upon the English batteries, saying we 
might just as well have spared our powder, as for any good 
we did. He belonged to the Julia, which had a long thirty- 
two, forward, which they called the " Old Sow," and one 
smart eighteen aft. She had two sixes in her ■waist, also ; 
but they disdained to use them. 



64 NEDMYERS;OR, 

While we were up at the harbour, the last time, Mr. Mix 
who had married a sister of Mr. Osgood, took a party of U3 
in a boat, and we went up Black River, shooting. The two 
gentlemen landed, and as we were coming down the river, 
we saw something swimming, which proved to be a bear. 
We had no arms, but we pulled over the beast, and had a 
regular squaw-fight with him. We were an hour at work 
with this animal, the fellow coming very near mastering us. 
I struck at his nose with an iron tiller fifty times, but he 
warded the blow like a boxer. He broke our boat-hook, 
and once or twice, he came near boarding us. At length a 
wood-boat gave us an axe, and with this we killed him. 
Mr. Osgood had this bear skinned, and said he should send 
the skin to his family. If he did, it must have been one of 
the last memorials it ever got from him. 



CHAPTER VI. 

I LEFT the two fleets manoeuvring for the wind, in the 
last chapter. About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the 
Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and 
fired a few guns to try the range of her shot. The distance 
was too great to engage. At this time our sternmost vessels 
were two leagues off, and the commodore wore round, and 
hauled up on the other tack. The enemy did the same 
but, perceiving that our leading ships were likely to weathet 
on him, he tacked, and hauled off to the northward. We 
stood on in pursuit, tacking too ; but the wind soon fell, and 
about sunset it was quite calm. 

Throughout the day, the Scourge had as much as she 
could do to keep anywhere near her station. As for the old 
Oneida, she could not be kept within a long distance of her 
proper berth. We were sweeping, at odd times, for hours 
that day. Towards evening, all the light craft were doing 
the same, to close with the commodore. Our object was to 
get together, lest the enemy should cut off some of our small 
vessels during the night. 



A LIFE B£FOR£ THE MAST. 65 

Before dark the whole line was formed again, with the 
exception of the Oneida, which was still astern, towing. 
She ought to have been near the commodore, but could not 
get there. A little before sunset, Mr. Osgood ordered us to 
pull in our sweeps, and to take a spell. It was a lovely 
evening, not a cloud visible, and the lake being as smooth 
as a looking-glass. The English fleet was but a short dis- 
tance to the northward of us ; so near, indeed, that we could 
ulmost count their ports. They were becalmed, like our- 
selves, and a little scattered. 

We took in our sweeps as ordered, laying them athwart 
the deck, in readiness to be used when wanted. The vessels 
ahead and astern of us were, generally, within speaking dis- 
tance. Just as the sun went below the horizon, George 
Turnblatt, a Swede, who was our gunner, came to me, and 
said he thought we ought to secure our guns ; for we had 
been cleared for action all day, and the crew at quarters. 
We were still at quarters, in name ; but the petty officers 
were allowed to move about, and as much license was given 
to the people as was wanted. I answered that I would gladly 
secure mine if he would get an order for it ; but as we were 
still at quarters, and there lay John Bull, we might get a 
slap at him in the night. On this the gunner said he would 
go aft, and speak to Mr. Osgood on the subject. He did so, 
Dut met the captain (as we always called Mr. Osgood) at the 
break of the quarter-deck. When George had told his 
errand, the captain looked at the heavens, and remarked 
that the night was so calm, there could be no great use in 
securing the guns, and the English were so near we should 
certainly engage, if there came a breeze ; that the men 
would sleep at their quarters, of course, and would be ready 
to take care of their guns ; but that he might catch a turn 
with the side-tackle-falls around the pommelions of the guns, 
which would be sufficient. He then ordered the boatswain 
to call all hands aft, to the break of the quarter-deck. 

As soon as the people had collected, Mr. Osgood said — 
'' You must be pretty well fagged out, men ; I think we may 
have a hard night's work, yet, and I wish you to get your 
suppers, and then catch as much sleep as you can, at your 
g jns." He then ordered the purser's steward to splice the 
main-brace. These were the last words I ever heard from 
fi* 



66 NEDMY£RS;OR, 

Mr. Osgood. As soon as he gave the order, he went below 
leaving the deck in charge of Mr. Bogardus. All our old 
crew were on board but Mr. Livingston, who had left us, 
and Simeon Grant, one-of my companions in the cruise over 
the battle-ground at Fort George. Grant had cut his hand 
off, in a saw-mill, while we were last at the Harbour, and 
had been left behind in the hospital. There was a pilot on 
board, who used to keep a look-out occasionally, and some- 
times the boatswain had the watch. 

The schooner, at this time, was under her mainsail, jib, 
and fore-top-sail. The foresail was brailed, and the foot 
stopped, and the flying-jib was stowed. None of the hal- 
yards were racked, nor sheets stoppered. This was a pre- 
caution we always took, on account of the craft's being so 
tender. 

We first spliced the main-brace and then got our suppers, 
eating between the guns, where we generally messed, indeed. 
One of my messmates, Tom Goldsmith, was captain of the 
gun next to me, and as we sat there finishing our suppers, I 
says to him, " Tom, bring up that rug that you pinned at 
Little York, and that will do for both of us to stow our- 
selves away under." Tom went down and got the rug, 
which was an article for the camp that he had laid hands 
on, and it made us a capital bed-quilt. As all hands were 
pretty well tired, we lay down, with our heads on shot- 
boxes, and soon went to sleep. 

In speaking of the canvass that was set, I ought to have 
said something of the state of our decks. The guns had 
the side-tackles fastened as I have mentioned. There was 
a box of canister, and another of grape, at each gun, be- 
sides extra stands of both, under the shot-racks. There 
was also one grummet of round-shot at every gun, besides 
the racks being filled. Each gun's crew slept at the gun 
and its opposite, thus dividing the people pretty equally on 
both sides of the deck. Those who were stationed below, 
.slept below. I think it probable that, as the night grew 
cool, as it always does on the fresh waters, some of the men 
stole below to get warmer berths. This was easily done in 
that craft, as we had but two regjlar officers on board, the 
acting boatswain and gunner being litlle more than two oJ 
ourselves. 



ALIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 67 

I was soon asleep, as sound as if lying in the bed of a 
king. How long my nap lasted, or what took place in the 
interval, I cannot say. 1 awoke, however, in consequence 
of large drops of rain falling on my face. Tom Goldsmith 
awoke at the same moment. When I opened my eyes, it 
was so dark I could not see the length of the deck. I arose 
and spoke to Tom, telling him it was about to rain, and that 
I meant to go down and get a nip, out of a little stuff we 
kept in our mess-chest, and that I would bring up the bottle 
if he wanted a taste. Tom answered, " this is nothing ; 
we 're neither pepper nor salt." One of the black men 
spoke, and asked me to bring up the bottle, and give hira a 
nip, too. All this took half a minute, perhaps. I now re- 
member to have heard a strange rushmg noise to windward 
as I went towards the forward hatch, though it made no 
impression on me at the time. We had been lying between 
the starboard guns, which was the weather side of the ves- 
sel, if there were any weather side to it, there not being a 
breath of air, and no motion to the water, and I passed 
round to the larboard side, in order to find the ladder, which 
led up in that direction. The hatch was so small that two 
men could not pass at a time, and I felt my way to it, in no 
haste. One hand was on the bitts, and a foot was on the 
ladder, when a flash of lightning almost blinded me. The 
thunder came at the next instant, and with it a rushing of 
winds that fairly smothered the clap. 

The instant I was aware there was a squall, I sprang for 
the jib-sheet. Being captain of the forecastle, I knew where 
to find it, and throw it loose at a jerk. In doing this, I 
jumped on a man named Leonard Lewis, and called on him 
to lend me a hand. I next let fly the larboard, or lee top- 
sail-sheet, got hold of the clew-line, and, assisted by Lewis, 
got the clew half up.- All this time I kept shouting to the 
man at the wheel to put his helm " hard down." The water 
was now up to my breast, and I knew the schooner must go 
over. Lewis had not said a word, but I called out to him to 
shift for himself, and belaying the clew-line, in hauling myself 
forward of the foremast, I received a blow from the jib-sheet 
that came near breaking my left arm. I did not feel the 
effect of this blow at the time, though thie arm has since 



08 NEDMYERS;OK, 

been operated on, to extract a tumour produced by this very 
injury. 

All this occupied less than a minute. The flashes of 
lightning were incessant, and nearly blinded me. Our decka 
seemed on fire, and yet I could see nothing. I heard no 
hail, no order, no call ; but the schooner was filled with 
the shrieks and cries of the men to leeward, who were lying 
jammed under the guns, shot-boxes, shot, and other heavy 
things that had gone down as the vessel fell over. The 
starboard second gun, from forward, had capsized, and come 
down directly over the forward hatch, and I caught a glimpse 
of a man struggling to get past it. Apprehension of this 
gun had induced me to drag myself forward of the mast, 
where I received the blow mentioned. 

I succeeded in hauling myself up to windward, and io 
getting into the schooner's fore-channels. Here I met Wil- 
liam Deer, the boatswain, and a black boy of the name of 
Philips, who was the powder-boy of our gun. " Deer, she's 
gone I" I said. The boatswain made no answer, but walked 
out on the fore-rigging, towards the mast-head. He proba- 
bly had some vague notion that the schooner's masts would 
be out of water if she went down, and took this course as 
the safest. The boy was in the chains the last I saw of him. 
I now crawled aft, on the upper side of the bulwarks, 
amid a most awful and infernal din of thunder, and shrieks, 
and dazzling flashes of lightning ; the wind blowing all the 
while like a tornado. When I reached the port of my own 
gun, I put a foot in, thinking to step on the muzzle of the 
piece ; but it had gone to leeward with all the rest, and 1 
fell through the port, until I brought up with my arms. I 
struggled up again, and continued working my way aft. As 
I got abreast of the main-mast, I saw some one had Jet run 
the halyards. I soon reached the beckets of the sweeps, 
and found four in them. I could not swim a stroke, and it 
crossed my mind to get one of the sweeps to keep me afloat. 
In striving to jerk the becket clear, it parted, and the forward 
ends of the four sweeps rolled down the schooner's side 
into the water. This caused the other ends to slide, and all 
the sweeps got away from me. I then crawled quite aft, as 
far as the fashion-piece. The water was pouring down the 



A. LIFC BEFORE THE MAST. 69 

cabin companion-way like a sluice ; and as I stood, for an 
instant, on the fashion-piece, I saw Mr. Osgood, with his 
head and pait of his shoulders through one of the cabin 
windows, struggling to get out. He must have been within 
six feet of me. I saw him but a moment, by means of a 
flash of lightning, and I think he must have seen me. At 
the same time, there was a man visible on the end of the 
main- boom, holding on by the clew of the sail. I do not 
know who it was. This man probably saw me, and that I 
was about to spring; for he called out, "Don't jump over- 
board ! — don't jump overboard ! The schooner is righting." 

I was not in a state of mind to reflect much on anything. 
I do not think more than three or four minutes, if as many, 
had passed since the squall struck us, and there I was stand- 
ing on the vessel's quarter, led by Providence more than 
by any discretion of my own. It now came across me that 
if the schooner should right she was filled, and must go 
down, and that she might carry me with her in the suction. 
I made a spring, therefore, and fell into the water several 
feet from the place where I had stood. It is my opinion the 
schooner sunk as I left her. I went down some distance 
myself, and when I came up to the surface, I began to swim 
vigorously for the first time in my life. I think I swam 
several yards, but of course will not pretend to be certain 
of such a thing, at such a moment, until I felt my hand hit 
something hard. I made another stroke, and felt my hand 
pass down the side of an object that I knew at once was a 
clincher-built boat. I belonged to this boat, and I now 
recollected that she had been towing astern. Until that 
instant I had not thought of her, but thus was I led in the 
dark to the best possible means of saving my life. I made 
a grab at the gunwale, and caught it in the stern-sheets. 
Had I swum another yard, I should have passed the boat, 
and missed her altogether ! I got in without any difficulty, 
being all alive and much excited. 

My first look was for the schooner. She had disappeared, 
and I supposed she was just settling under water. It rained 
as if the flood-gates of heaven were opened, and it lightened 
awfully. It did not seem to me that there was a breath of 
air, and the water was unruffled, the effects of the rain ex- 
ceptf^A. All this I saw, as it might be, at a glance. But 



70 NEDMYERS;OR, 

my chief concern was to preserve my own life. I w&i 
cockswain of this very boat, and had made it fast to ift'j 
taffi-ail that same afternoon, with a round turn and two half- 
hitches, by its best painter. Of course I expected the vessel 
would drag the boat down with her, for I had no knife to 
cut the painter. There was a gang-board in the boat, how- 
ever, which lay fore and aft, and I thought this might ke'ep 
me afloat until some of the fleet should pick me up. To 
clear this gang- board, then, and get it into the water, was 
my first object. I ran forward to throw off" the lazy-painter 
that was coiled on its end, and in doing this T caught the 
boat's painter in my hand, by accident. A pull satisfied me 
that it was all clear ! Some one on board must have cast 
off" this painter, and then lost his chance of getting into the 
boat by an accident. At all events, I was safe, and I now 
dared to look about me. 

My only chance of seeing, was during the flashes ; and 
these left me almost blind. 1 had thrown the gang-board 
into the water, and I now called out to encourage the men, 
telling them I was in the boat. I could hear many around 
me, and, occasionally, I saw the heads of men, struggling 
m the lake. There being no proper place to scull in, I got 
an oar in the after ruUock, and made out to scull a little, in 
that fashion. I now saw a man quite near the boat ; and, 
hauling in the oar, made a spring amidships, catching this 
poor fellow by the collar. He was very near gone ; and I 
had a great deal of difficulty in getting him in over the gun- 
wale. Our joint weight brought the boat down, so low, that 
she shipped a good deal of water. This turned out to be 
Leonard Lewis, the young man who had helped me to clew 
up the fore-topsail. He could not stand, and spoke with 
difficulty. I asked him to crawl aft, out c{ the water ; which 
he did, lying down in the stern-sheets 

I jiow looked about me, and heard another ,' leaning over 
the gunwale, I got a glimpse of a man, struggling, quite 
near the boat. I caught him by the collar, too; and had to 
drag him in very much in the way I had done with Lewis. 
This pi'oved to be Lemuel Bryant, the man who had beer 
wounded by a hot shot, at York, as already mentioned, 
while the commodore was on board us. His wound had not 
yet healed, but he was less exhausted than Lewis. He coula 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 71 

lot help me, however, lying down in the bottom of the boit, 
.he instant he was able. 

For a few moments, I now heard no more in the water ; 
and I began to scull again. By my calculation, I moved a 
[ew yards, and must have got over the spot where the 
schooner went down. Here, in the flashes, I saw many 
heads, the men swimming in confusion, and at random. By 
this time, little was said, the whole scene being one of fear- 
ful struggling and frightful silence. It still rained ; but the 
flashes were less frequent, and less fierce. They told me, 
afterwards, in the squadron, that it thundered awfully ; bui 
I cannot say I heard a clap, after I struck the water. The 
next man caught the boat himself. It was a mulatto, from 
Martinique, who was Mr, Osgood's steward ; and I helped 
him in. He was much exhausted, though an excellent 
swimmer ; but alarm nearly deprived him of his strength. 
He kept saying, " Oh ! Masser Ned — Ohi Masser Ned !" 
and lay down in the bottom of the boat, like the two others ; 
I taking care to shove him over to the larboard side, so as 
to trim our small craft. 

I kept calling out, to encourage the swimmers, and pre- 
sently I heard a voice, saying, " Ned, I 'm here, close by 
you." This was Tom Goldsmith, a messmate, and the very 
man under whose rug I had been sleeping, at quarters. He 
did not want much help, getting in, pretty much, by himself. 
I asked him, if he were able to help me. " Yes, Ned," he 
answered, " I '11 stand by you to the last ; what shall I do?" T 
told him to take his tarpaulin, and to bail the boat, which, 
by this time, was a third full of water. . This he did, while 
I sculled a little ahead. " Ned," says Tom, " she 's gone 
down with her colours flying, for her pennant came near 
getting a round turn about my body, and carrying me down 
with her. Davy has made a good haul, and he gave us a 
close shave ; but he didn't get you and me." In this manner 
did this thoughtless sailor express himself, as soon as res- 
cued from the grasp of death ! Seeing something on the 
water, I asked Tom to take my oar, while I sprang to the 
gunwale, and caught Mr. Bogardus, the master's mate, who 
was clinging to one of the sweeps. I hauled him in, and 
he told me, he thought, some one had hold of the other end 
of the sweep. It was so dark, however, we could not see 



72 NEDMYERS;OR, 

even that distance. I hauled the sweep along, until I found 
Ebenezer Duffy, a mulatto, and the ship's cook. He could 
not swim a stroke ; and was nearly gone. I got him .'n, 
alone, Tom bailing, lest the boat, which was quite small, 
should swamp with us. 

As the boat drifted along, she reached another man. 
whom I caught also by the collar. I was afraid to !aaul 
this person in amidships, the boat being now so deep, and 
so small, and so I dragged him ahead, and hauled him in 
over the bows. This was the pilot, whose name I never 
knew. He was a lake-man, and had been aboard us the 
whole summer. The poor fellow was almost gone, and like 
all the rest, with the exception of Tom, he lay down and 
said not a word. 

We had nov/ as many in the boat as it would carry, and 
Tom and myself thought it would not do to take in any 
more. It is true, we saw no more, everything around us 
appearing still as death, the pattering of the rain excepted. 
Tom began to bail again, and I commenced hallooing. J 
sculled about several minutes, thinking of giving others a 
tow, or of even hauling in one or two more, after we got 
the water out of the boat ; but we found no one else. I 
think it probable I sculled away from the spot, as there was 
nothing to guide me. I suppose, however, that by this time, 
all the Scourges had gone down, for no more were ever 
heard from. 

• Tom Goldsmith and myself now put our heads together 
as to what was best to be done. We were both afraid of 
falling into the enemy's hands, for, they might have bore 
up in the squall, and run down near us. On the whole, 
however, we thought the distance between the two squad- 
rons was too great for this ; at all events, something must 
be done at once. So we began to row, in what direction 
even we did not know. It still rained as hard as it could 
pour, though there was not a breath of wind. The lightning 
came now at considerable intervals, and the gust was evi- 
dently passing away towards the broader parts of the lake. 
While. we were revving and talking about our chance of 
falling in with the enemy, Tom cried out to me to " avas' 
pulling." He had seen a vessel, by a flash, and he though* 
she was English, from her size. As he said she was s 



A LIFE B£FURE TH£ MAST. 73 

schooner, however, I thought it must be one of our own 
craft, and got her direction from him. At the next flash I 
saw her, and felt satisfied she belonged to us. Before we 
began to pull, however, we were hailed " boat ahoy 1" I 
answered. " If you pull another stroke, I '11 fire into you" — 
came back — " what boat 's that ? Lay on your oars, or I '11 
fire into you." It was clear we were mistaken ourselves 
for an enemy, and I called out to know what schooner it 
was. No answer was given, though the threat to fire was 
repeated, if we pulled another stroke. I now turned to Tom 
and said, " I know that voice — that is old Trant." Tom 
thought "we were in the v ong shop." I now sung out, 
" This is the Scourge's boat — our schooner has gone down, 
and we want to come alongside." A voice next called from 
the schooner — " Is that you, Ned ?" This I knew was my 
old ship-mate and school-fellow. Jack Mallet, who was act- 
ing as boatswain of the Julia, the schooner commanded by 
sailing-master James Trant, one of the oddities of the ser- 
vice, and a man wiih whom the blow often came as soon as 
the word. I had known Mr. Trant's voice, and felt more 
afraid he would fire into us, than I had done of anything 
which had occurred that fearful night. Mr. Trant, himself, 
now called out — " Oh-ho ; give way, boys, and come 
alongside." This we did, and a very few strokes took us 
up to the Julia, where we were received with the utmost 
kindness. The men were passed out of the boat, while I 
gave Mr. Trant an account of all that had happened. This 
took but a minute or two. 

Mr. Trant now inquired in what direction the Scourge 
had gone down, and, as soon as I had told him, in the best 
manner I could, he called out to Jack Mallet — " Oh-ho, Mal- 
let — take four hands, and go in the boat and see what you 
can do — take a lantern,, and I will show a light on the wa- 
ter's edge, so you may know me." Mallet did as ordered, 
and was off in less than three minutes after we got along- 
side. Mr. Trant, who was much humoured, had no officer 
in the Julia, unless Mallet could be called one. He was an 
Irishman by birth, but had been in the American navy ever 
since the revolution, dying a lieutenant, a few years aftei 
this war. Perhaps no man in the navy was more generally 
known, or excited more am isement by his oddities, or more 
- 7 



74 NEDMYERS;OR, 

respect for his courage. He had come on the lake with the 
commodore, with whom he was a great pet, and had been 
active in all the fights and afTairs that had yet taken place. 
His religion was to hate an Englishman. 

Mr. Trant now called the Scourges aft, and asked more 
of the particulars. He then gave us a glass of grog all 
round, and made his own crew splice the main-brace. The 
Julias now offered us dry clothes. I got a change from 
Jack Reilly, who had been an old messmate, and with whom 
I had always been on good terms. It knocked off raining, 
but we shifted ourselves at the galley fire below. I then 
went on deck, and presently we heard the boat pulling back. 
It soon came alongside, bringing in it four more men that 
had been found floating about on sweeps and gratings. On 
inquiry, it turned out that these men belonged to the Hamil- 
ton, Lt. Winter — a schooner that had gone down in the 
same squall that carried us over. These men were very 
much exhausted, too, and we all went below, and were told 
to turn in. 

I had been so much excited during the scenes through 
which I had just passed, and had been so much stimulated 
by grog, that, as yet, I had not felt much of the depression 
natural lo buch events. I even slept soundly that night, nor 
did I turn ouu until six the next morning. 

When I got uti deck, there was a fine breeze ; it was a 
lovely day, and the lake was perfectly smooth. Our fleet was 
in a good line, in pretty close order, with the exception of 
the Governor Tompkins, Lieutenant Tom Brown, which was 
a little to leeward, but carrying a press of sail to close with 
the commodore. Mr. Tiant perceiving that the Tompkins 
wished to speak us in pasrsing, brailed his foresail and let 
her Ijiff up close under out lee. "Two of the schooners, 
the Hamilton and the Scouige, have gone down in the night," 
called out Mr. Brown ; " foi I have picked up four of the 
Hamilton's." " Oh-ho !" — answered Mr. Trant — "That's 
no news at all ! for I have picked up twelve ; eight of the 
Scourge's, and four of the Hamilton's — aft fore-sheet." 

These were all that were ever saved from the two schoon- 
ers, which must have had near a hundred souls on board 
them. The two commanders. Lieutenant Winter and Mr, 
Osgood were both lost, and .<ith Mr. Winter went down 



A LITE BEFORE THE MAST. 75 

I believe, one or two young gentlemen. The squadron 
could not have moved much between the time when the 
accidents happened and that when I came on deck, or we 
must have come round and gone over the same ground 
again, for we now passed many relics of the scene, floating 
about in the water. I saw spunges, gratings, sweeps, hats, 
&c., scattered about, and in passing ahead we saw one of 
the latter that we tried to catch ; Mr. Trant ordering it 
done, as he said it must have been Lieutenant Winter's. 
We did not succeed, however ; nor was any article taken 
on board. A good look-out was kept for men, from aloit, 
but none were seen from any of the vessels. The lake had 
swallowed up the rest of the two crews ; and the Scourge, 
as had been often predicted, had literally become a coffin to 
a large portion of her people. 

There was a good deal of manoeuvring between the two 
fleets this day, and some efforts were made to engage ; but, 
to own the truth, I felt so melancholy about the loss of so 
many ship-mates, that I did not take much notice of what 
passed. All my Black Jokers were drowned, and nothing 
remained of the craft and people with which and whom 1 
had been associated all summer. Bill Southard, too, was 
among the lost, as indeed were all my messmates but Tom 
Goldsmith and Lemuel Bryant. T had very serious and 
proper impressions for the moment ; but my new shipmates, 
some of whom had been old shipmates in other crafts, man- 
aged to cheer me up with grog. The effect was not durable, 
and in a short time I ceased to think of what had happened. 
I have probably reflected more on the merciful manner in 
which my life was spared, amid a scene so terrific, within 
the last five years, than I did in the twenty-five that imme- 
diately followed the accidents. 

The fleet went in, off" the Niagara, and anchored. Mr. 
Trant now mustered the remaining Scourges, and told us 
he wanted just our number of hands, and that he meant to 
get an order to keep us in the Julia. In the meantime, he 
should station and quarter us. I was stationed at the braces, 
Rnd quartered at the long thirty-two as second loader. The 
Julia mounted a long thirty-two, and an eighteen on pivots, 
besides two sixes in the 'waist. The last were little used, as 
I have already mentioned. She was a small, but a fast 



76 NEDMYERS;OR, 

schooner, and had about forty souls on board. She waa 
altogether a better craft than the Scourge, though destitute 
of any quarters, but a low rail with wash-boards, and car- 
rying fewer guns. 



CHAPTER VII. 

I NEVER knew what became of the four Hamiltons that 
were picked up by the Julia's boat, though I suppose they 
were put in some other vessel along with their shipmates ; 
nor did I ever learn the particulars of the loss of this schooner, 
beyond the fact that her topsail-sheets were stoppered, and 
her halyards racked. This much I learned from the men 
Avho were brought on board the Julia, who said that their 
craft was ready, in all respects, for action. Some seamen 
have thought this wrong, and some right; but, in my 
opinion, it made but little difference in such a gust as that 
which passed over us. What was remarkable, the Julia, 
which could not have been far from the Scourge when we 
went over, felt no great matter of wind, just luffing up, and 
shaking her sails, to be rid of it! 

We lay only one night off the mouth of the Niagara. 
The next morning the squadron weighed, and stood out in 
pursuit of the English. The weather was very variable, 
and we could not get within reach of Sir James all that 
day. This was the 9th of August. The Scourge had gone 
down on the night of the 7th, or the morning of the 8th, I 
never knew which. On the morning of the 10th, however, 
we were under the north shore, and to windward of John 
Bull. The Commodore now took the Asp, and the Madison 
the Fair American, in tow, and we all kept away, expecting 
certainly a general action. But the wind shifted, bringing 
the English to windward. The afternoon was calm ; oi 
had variable airs. Towards sunset, the enemy was be- 
calmed under the American shore^ and we got a breeze 
from the southward. We now closed, and at 6 formed our 
)ine for engaging. We continued to close until 7, when 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 71 

ihe wind came out fresh at S. W., putting John again to 
windward. 

I can hardly tell what followed, there was so much ma- 
noeuvring and shifting of berths. Both squadroas were 
standing across the lake, the enemy being to windward, and 
a little astern of us. We now passed within hail of the 
commodore, who gave us orders to form a new line of bat- 
tle, which we did in the following manner. One line, com- 
posed of the smallest schooners, was formed to windward, 
while the ships, brig, and two heaviest schooners, formed 
another line to leeward. We had the weathermost line, 
having the Growler, Lieutenant Deacon, for the vessel next 
astern of us. This much I could see, though I did not un- 
derstand the object. I now learn the plan was for the 
weather line to engage the enemy, and then, by edging 
away, draw them down upon the lee line, which line con- 
tained our principal force. According to the orders, we 
ought to have rather edged off, as soon as the Englisli 
began to fire, in order to draw them down upon the commo 
dore ; but it will be seen that our schooner pursued a ver) 
different course. 

It must have been near midnight, when the enemy began 
to fire at the Fair American, the sternmost vessel of oui 
weather line. We were a long bit ahead of her, and did 
not engage for some time. The firing became pretty smart 
astern, but we stood on, without engaging, the enemy not 
yet being far enough ahead for us. After a while, the four 
sternmost schooners of our line kept off", according to orders, 
but the Julia and Growler still stood on. I suppose the 
English kept off", too, at the same time, as the commodore 
had expected. At any rate, we found ourselves so well up 
with the enemy, that, instead of bearing up, Mr. Trant 
tacked in the Julia, and the Growler came round after us. 
We now began to fire on the headmost ships of the enemy, 
which were coming on towards us. We were able to lay 
past the enemy on this tack, and fairly got to windward of 
them. When we were a little on John Bull's weather boWj 
we brailed the foresail, and gave him sevei'al rounds, within . 
1 pretty fair distance. The enemy answered us, and, from 

that moment, he seemed to give up all thoughts of the ves- 

7 * 



78 NEDMY£RS;OR, 

sels to leeward of him, turning his whole attention on the 
Julia and Growler. 

The English fleet stood on the same tack, until it had got 
between us and our own line, when it went about in chase 
of us. We now began to make short tacks to windward ; 
the enemy separating so as to spread a wide clew, in order 
that they might prevent our getting past, by turning their 
line and running to leeward. As for keeping to windward, 
we had no difficulty — occasionally brailing our foresail, and 
even edging off, now and then, to be certain that our shot 
would tell. In moderate weather, the Julia was the fastest 
vessel in the American squadron, the Lady of the Lake 
excepted ; and the Growler was far from being dull. Had 
there been room, I make no doubt we might have kept clear 
of John Bull, with the greatest ease; touching him up with 
our long, heavy guns, from time to time, as it suited us. I 
have often thought that Mr. Trant forgot we were between 
the enemy and the land, and that he fancied himself out at 
sea. It was a hazy, moonlight morning, and we did not see 
anything of the main, though it turned out to be nearer to 
us than we wished. 

All hands were now turning to windward ; the two 
schooners still edging off, occasionally, and firing. The 
enemy's shot went far beyond us, and did us some mischief, 
though nothing that was not immediately repaired. The 
main throat-halyards, on board the Julia, were shot away, 
as was the clew of the mainsail. It is probable the enemy 
did not keep his luff, towards the last, on account of the land. 

Our two schooners'kept quite near each other, sometimes 
one being to windward, sometimes the other. It happened 
that the Growler was a short distance to windward of us, 
when we first became aware of the nature of our critical 
situation. She up helm, and, running down within hail. 
Lieutenant Deacon informed Mr. Trant he had just sounded 
in two fathoms, and that he could see lights ashore. He 
thought there must be Indians, in great numbers, in this 
vicinity, and that we must, at all events, avoid the land. 
"What do you think we had best do?" asked Lieutenant 
Deacon. "Run the gauntlet," called out Mr. Trant. " Very 
well, sir : which shall lead ?" " I'll lead the van," answered 
Mr. Trant, and then all was settled. 



A L I F E B E F O R E THE MAST. 70 

We now up helm, and steered for a vacancy aniong the 
British vessels. The enemy seemed to expect us, for they 
formed m two lines, leaving us room to enter between them. 
When we bore up, even in these critical circumstances, it 
was under our mainsail, fore-top-sail, jib, flying-jib, and fore- 
sail. So insufficient were the equipments of these small 
craft, that we had neither square-sail nor studding-sails on 
board us. I never saw a studding-sail in any of the schoon- 
ers, the Scourge excepted. 

The Julia and Growler now ran down, the former lead- 
ing, half a cable's-length apart. When we entered between 
the two lines of the enemy, we were within short canister- 
range, and got it smartly on both tacks. The two English 
ships were to leeward, each leading a line ; and we had a 
brig, and three large, regular man-of-war schooners, to get 
past, with the certainty of meeting the Wolfe and Royal 
George, should we succeed in clearing these four craft. Both 
of us kept up a heavy fire, swivelling our guns round, so as 
not to neglect any one. As we drew near the ships, how- 
ever, we paid them the compliment of throwing all the heavy 
shot at them, as was due to their rank and size. 

For a few minutes we fared pretty well ; but we were no 
sooner well entered between the lines, than we got it, hot 
and hard. Our rigging began to come down about our ears, 
and one shot passed a few feet above our heads, cutting both 
topsail-sheets, and scooping a bit of wood as big as a thirty- 
two pound shot, out of the foremast. I went up on one side, 
myself, to knot one of these sheets, and, while aloft, disco- 
vered the injury that had been done to the spar. Soon after, 
the tack of the mainsail caught fire, from a wad of one of 
the Englishmen ; for, by this time, we were close at it. 1 
think, indeed, that the nearness of the enemy alone pre- 
vented our decks from being entirely swept. The grape and 
canister were passing just above our heads like hail, and the 
foresail was literally in ribands. The halyards being gone, 
the mainsail came down by the run, and the jib settled as 
low as it could. The topsail-yard was on the cap, and the 
schooner now came up into the wind. 

All this time, we kept working the guns. The old man 
went from one gun to the other, pointing each himself, as it 
vas ready. He was at the eighteen when things were get- 



80 NEDMYERS;OR, 

ting near the worst, and, as he left her, he called out to hei 
crew to "fill her — fill her to the muzzle!" He then came 
to our gun, which was already loaded with one round, a 
stand of grape, and a case of canister shot. This I know, 
for I put them all in with my own hands. At this time, the 
Melville, a brig of the enemy's, was close up with us, firing 
upon our decks from her fore-top. She was coming up on 
our larboard quarter, while a large schooner was nearing us 
fast on the starboard. Mr. Trant directed our gun to be 
elevated so as to sweep the brig's forecastle, and then he 

called out, " Now 's the time, lads — fire at the b s I fire 

away at 'em !" But no match was to be found I Some one 
had thrown both overboard. By this time the brig's jib- 
boom was over our quarter, and the English were actually 
coming on board of us. The enemy were now all round us. 
The Wolfe, herself, was within hail, and still firing. The 
last I saw of any of our people, was Mallet passing forward, 
and I sat down on the slide of the thirty-two, myself, suiisji 
as a bear. Two or three of the English passed me, without 
saying anything. Even at this instant, a volley of bullets 
came out of the brig's fore-top, and struck all around me ; 
some hitting the deck, and others the gun itself. Just then, 
an English officer came up, and said — " What are you doing 
here, you Yankee?" I felt exceedingly savage, and an- 
swered, " Looking at your fools firing upon their own men." 
" Take that for your sauce," he said, giving me a thrust 
with his sword, as he spoke. The point of the cutlass just 
passed my hip-bone, and gave me a smart flesh-wound. The 
hurt was not dangerous, though it bled freely, and was some 
weeks in healing. I now rose to go below, and heard a hail 
from one of the ships — the Wolfe, as I took her to be. 
" Have you struck ?" demanded some one. The officer who 
had hurt me now called out, " Don't fire into us, sir, for I'm 
on board, and have got possession." The officer from the 
ship next asked, "Is there anybody alive on board her?" 
To which the prize-officer answered, " I don't know, sir , 
I 've seen but one man, as yet." 

I now went down below. First, I got a bandage on my 
wound, to stop the bleeding, and then I had an opportunity 
to look about me. A party of English was below, and 
some of our men having joined them, the heads were knock- 



A LIFE B£FOR£ THE MAST. 81 

ed out of two barrels of whiskey. The kids and bread-bags 
were procured, and all hands, without distinction of country, 
sat down to enjoy themselves. Some even began to sing, 
and, as for good-fellowship, it was just as marked, as it 
would have been in a jollification ashore. 

In a few minutes the officer who had hurt me jumped 
down among us. The instant he saw what we were at, he 
sang out — " Halloo 1 here 's high life below stairs 1" Then 
he sailed to another officer to bear a hand down and see the 
fun. Some one sung out from among ourselves to " dowse 
the glim." The lights were put out, and then the two offi- 
cers capsized the whiskey. While this was doing, most of 
the Englishmen ran up the forward hatch. We Julias all 
remained below. 

In less than an hour we were sent on board the enemy's 
vessels. I was carried to the Royal George, but Mr. Trant 
was taken on board the Wolfe. The Growler had lost her 
bowsprit, and was otherwise damaged, and had been forced 
to strike also. She had a man killed, and I believe one or 
two wounded.* On board of us, not a man, besides myself, 
had been touched 1 We seemed to have been preserved by 
a miracle, for every one of the enemy had a slap at us, and, 
for some time, we were within pistol-shot. Then we had 
00 quarters at all, being perfectly exposed to grape and 
canister. The enemy must have fired too high, for nothing 
else could have saved us. 

In July, while I still belonged to the Scourge, I had been 
sent with a boat's crew, under Mr. Bogardus, on board an 
English flag of truce that had come into the Harbour. 
While in this vessel, our boat's crew were "hail-fellows- 
well-met" with the Englishmen, and we had agreed among 
us to take care of each other, should either side happen to 
be taken. I had been on board the Royal George but a 
short time, when two of these very men came up to me with 
some grog and some grub ; and next morning they brought 

* It is supposed that Capt. Deacon died, a few years since, in con- 
Bequence of an injury he received on board the Growler, this night. 
A shot struck her main-boom, within a short distance of one of his 
ears, and he ever after complained of its effects. 'At his death this 
side of bis head was much swollen and afiected. — Editor. 



82 NEl>MYIiRS;OR, 

me my bitters. I saw no more of them, however, excepH 
when they came to shake hands with us at the gang-way, as 
we were leaving the ship. 

After breakfast, next morning, we were all called aft to 
the ward-room, one at a time. I was pumped as to the 
force of the Americans, the names of the vessels, the num- 
bers of the crews, and the names of the commanders. 1 
answered a little saucily, and was ordered out of the ward- 
room. As I was quitting the place, I was called back by 
one of the lieutenants, whose appearance I did not like from 
the first. Although it was now eight years since I left Hali- 
fax, and we had both so much altered, I took this gentleman 
for Mr. Bowen, the very midshipman of the Cleopatra, who 
had been my schoolmate, and whom I had known on board 
the prize-brig I have mentioned. 

This officer asked me where I was born. I told him New 
York. He said he knew better, and asked my name. J 
told him it was what he found it on the muster-roll, and traf 
by which I had been called. He said I knew better, and 
that I should hear more of this, hereafter. If this were my 
old schoolfellow, he knew that I was always called Edward 
Robert Meyers, whereas I had dropped the middle name," 
and now called myself Myers. He may not, however, have 
been the person I took him for, and might have mistaken 
me for some one else ; for I never had an opportunity of 
ascertaining any more about him. 

We got into Little York, and were sent ashore that even- 
ing. I can say nothing of our squadron, having been kept 
below the whole time I was on board the Royal George. I 
could not find out whether we did the enemy any harm, or 
not, the night we were taken ; though I remember that a 
sixty-eight pound carronade, that stood near the gang-way 
of the Royal George, was dismounted, the night I passed 
into her. It looked to me as if the trucks were gone. This 
I know, that the ship was more than usually screened off; 
though for what reason I will npt pretend to say. 

At York, we were put in the gaol, where we were kept three 
weeks. Our treatment was every way bad, with the excep- 
tion that we were not crowded. As to food, we were kept 
" six upon four" the whole time I was prisoner.* The bread 

* By this, Ned means six men had to subsist on the usual allow 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 83 

was bad, and the pork little better. While in this gaol, a 
party of drunken Indians gave us a volley, in passing; but 
luckily it did us no harm. 

At the end of three weeks, we received a haversack 
apiece, and two days' allowance. Our clothes were taken 
from us, and the men were told they would get them below; 
a thing that happened to very few of us, I believe. As for 
myself, I was luckily without anything to lose ; my effects 
having gone down in the Scourge. All I had on earth was 
a shirt and two handkerchiefs, and an old slouched hat, that 
I had got in exchange for a Scotch cap that had been given 
to me in the Julia. I was without shoes, and so continued 
until I reached Halifax. All this gave me little concern ; 
my spirits being elastic, and my disposition gay. My great 
trouble was the apprehension of being known, through the 
recollections of the officer I have mentioned. 

We now commenced our march for Kingston, under the 
guard of a company of the Glengarians and a party of 
Indians. The last kept on our flanks, and it was understood 
they would shoot and scalp any man who left the ranks. 
We marched two and two, being something like eighty pri- 
soners. It was hard work for the first day or two, the road 
being nothing but an Indian trail, and our lodging-places 
the open air. My feet became very sore, and, as for food, 
we had to eat our pork raw, there being nothing to cook in. 
The soldiers fared no better than ourselves, however, with 
the exception of being on full allowance. It seems that our 
provisions were sent by water, and left for us at particular 
places ; for every eight-and-forty hours we touched the lake 
shore, and found them ready for us. They were left on the 
beach without any guard, or any one near them. In this 
way we picked up our supplies the whole distance. 

At the depot, Mr. Bogardus and the pilot found a boat, 
and managed to get into her, and put out into the lake. 
After being absent a day and night, they were driven in by 
rough weather, and fell into the hands of a party of dra- 
goons who were escorting Sir George Prevost along the laka 

ance of four men ; a distinction that was made between men on dutj 
aiid men off. Prisoners, too, are commonly allowed to help themselves 
in a variety of ways. — Editor. 



84 NEDIHYERS;OR, 

shore. We found them at a sort of tavern, where were the 
English Governor and his escort at the time. They were 
sent back among us, with two American army officers, who 
had fallen into the hands of the Indians, and had been most 
foully treated. One of these officers was wounded in the 
arm. 

The night of the day we fell in with Sir George Prevost, 
we passed through a hamlet, and slept just without it. As 
we entered the village the guard played Yankee Doodle, 
winding up with the Rogue's March. As we went through 
the place, I got leave to go to a house and ask for a drink 
of milk. The woman of this house said they had been ex- 
pecting us for two days, and that they had been saving their 
milk expressly to give us. I got as much as I wanted, and 
a small loaf of bread in the bargain, as did several others 
with me. These people seemed to me to be all well affected 
So the Americans, and much disposed to treat us kindly. 
We slept on a barn floor that night. 

We were much provoked at the insult of playing fhe 
Rogue's March. Jack Reilly and I laid a plan to have our 
revenge, should it be repeated. Two or three days later 
we had the same tune, at another village, and I caught up 
a couple of large stones, ran ahead, and dashed them through 
both ends of the drum, before the boy, who was beating it, 
knew what I was about. Jack snatched the fife out of the 
other boy's hand, and it was passed from one to another 
among us, until it reached one who threw it over the railing 
of a bridge. After this, we had no more music, good or 
bad. Not a word was said to any of us about this affair, 
and I really think the officers were ashamed of themselves. 

After a march of several days we came to a hamlet, not 
a great distance from Kingston. I saw a good many geese 
about, and took a fancy to have one for supper. I told Mal- 
let if he would cook a goose, I would tip one over. The 
matter was arranged between us, and picking up a club I 
made a dash at a flock, and knocked a bird over. I caught 
up the goose and ran, when my fellow-prisoners called out 
to me to dodge, which I did, behind a stump, not knowing 
from what quarter the danger might come. It was well I 
did, for two Indians fired at me, one hitting the stump, and 
fhe other ball passing just over my head. A militia officoj 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 85 

now gallopped up, and drove back the Indians who were 
running up to me, to look after the scalp, I suppose. This 
officer remonstrated with me, but spoke mildly and even 
kindly. I told him I was hungry, and that I wanted a warm 
mess. " But you are committing a robbery," he said. " If 
I am, I 'm robbing an enemy." " You do not know but it 
may be a friend," was his significant answer. " Well, if I 
am, he '11 not grudge me the goose," says I. On hearing 
this, the officer laughed, and asked me how I meant to cook 
Ihe goose. I told him that one of my messmates had pro- 
mised to do this for me. He then bade me carry the goose 
into the ranks, and to come to him when we halted at night. 
I did this, and he gave us a pan, some potatoes, onions, &c., 
out of which we made the only good mess we got on our 
march. I may say this was the last hearty and really pala- 
table meal I made until I reached Halifax, a period of seve- 
ral weeks. 

While Jack Mallet was cooking the goose, I went in be- 
hind a pile of boards, attended by a soldier to watch me 
and, while there, I saw an ivory rule lying on the boards, 
with fifteen pence alongside of it. These I pinned, as a 
lawful prize, being in an enemy's country. The money 
served to buy us some bread. The rule was bartered for 
half a gallon of rum. This made us a merry night, taking 
all things togej.her. 

We made no halt at Kingston, though the Indians left us. 
We now marched through a settled country, with some 
militia for our guards. Our treatment was much better than 
Jt had been, the people of the country treating us kindly. 
When we were abreast of the Thousand Islands, Mr. Bo- 
gardus and the pilot made another attempt to escape, and 
got fairly off". These were the only two who did succeed. 
How they effected it I cannot say, but I know they escaped. 
I never saw either afterwards. 

At the Long Sault, we were all put in boats, with a Ca- 
nadian pilot in each end. The militia staid behind, and 
down we went ; they say at the rate of nine miles in fifteen 
minutes. We found a new guard at the foot of the rapids. 
This was done, beyond a doubt, to save us and themselves, 
though we thought hard of it at the time, for it appeared to 
us, as if they thrust us into a danger they did not like to 
8 



96 NEDMYERS;OR, 

run themselves. I have since heard that even ladies travel- 
ling, used to go dov^'n these formidable rapids in the same 
way ; and that, with skilful pilots, there is little or no dan- 
ger. 

When we reached Montreal we were confined in a gaol 
where we remained three weeks. There was an American 
lady confined in this building, though she had more liberty 
than we, and from her we received much aid. She sent us 
soap, and she gave me bandages &c., for my hurt. Occa- 
sionally she gave us little things to eat. I never knew her 
name, but heard she had two sons in the American army, 
and that she had been detected in corresponding with them. 

We remained at Montreal two or three weeks, and then 
were sent down to Quebec, where we were put on board of 
prison-ships. I was sent to the Lord Cathcart, and most 
of the Julia's men with me. Our provisions were very bad, 
and the mortality among us was great. The bread was 
intolerably bad. Mr. Trant came to see us, privately, and 
he brought some salt with him, which was a great relief to 
us. Jack Mallet asked him whether some of us might not 
go to work on board a transport, that lay just astern of us, 
in order to get something better to eat. Mr. Trant said yes, 
and eight of us went on board this craft, every day, getting 
provisions and grog for our pay. At sunset, we returned 
regularly to the Cathcart. I got a second shirt and a pair 
of trowsers in this way. 

About a fortnight after this arrangement, the Surprise^ 
32, and a sloop-of-war, came in, anchoring some distance 
below the town. These ships sent their boats up to the 
prison-ships to examine them for men. After going through 
those vessels, they came on board the transport, and finding 
us fresh, clean, fed and tolerably clad, they pronounced us 
all Englishmen, and carried us on board the frigate. We 
were not permitted even to go and take leave of our ship- 
mates. Of the eight men thus taken, five were native 
Americans, one was from Mozambique, one I suppose to 
have been an English subject born, but long settled in 
America; and, as for me, the reader knows as much of m} 
origin as I know myself. 

We were asked if we would go to duty on board the Sur« 
prise, and we all refused. We were then put in close con- 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 87 

finernent, on the berth-deck, under the charge of a sentry 
In a day or two, the ship sailed ; and off Cape Breton we 
met with a heavy gale, in which the people suffered severely 
with snow and cold. The ship was kept off the land, with 
great difficulty. After all, we prisoners saved the ship, 
though I think it likely the injury originally came from 
some of us. The breechings of two of the guns had been 
cut, and the guns broke adrift in the height of the gale. All 
the crew were on deck, and the sentinel permitting it, we 
went up and smothered the guns with hammocks. We 
were now allowed to go about deck, but this lasted a short 
time, the whole of us being sent below, again, as soon as 
the gale abated. 

On reaching Halifax, we were all put on board of the 
Regulus transport, bound to Bermuda. Here we eight were 
thrown into irons, under the accusation of being British 
subjects. At the end of twenty-four hours, however, the 
captain came to us, and offered to let us out of irons, and 
to give us ship's treatment, if we would help in working the 
vessel to Bermuda. I have since thought we were ironed 
merely to extort this arrangement from us. We consulted 
together ; and, thinking a chance might offer to get posses- 
sion of the Regulus, which had only a few Canadians in 
her, and was to be convoyed by the Pictou schooner, we 
consented. We were now turned up to duty, and I got the 
first pair of shoes that had been on my feet since the Scourge 
sunk from under me. 

The reader will imagine I had not been in the harbour 
of Halifax, without a strong desire to ascertain something 
about those I had left behind me, in that town. I was ner- 
vously afraid of being discovered, and yet had a feverish 
wish to go ashore. The manner in which I gratified this 
wish, and the conseqiiences to which it led, will be seen in 
he sefjuel. 



88 NEDMYERS;OR, 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Jack Mallet had long known my history. He was 
my confidant, and entered into all my feelings. The night 
we went to duty on board the transport, a boat was lying 
alongside of the ship, and the weather being thick, it afforded 
a good opportunity for gratifying my longing. Jack and 
myself got in, after putting our heads together, and stole off 
undetected. I pulled directly up to the wharf of Mr. Mar- 
chinton, and at once found myself at home. I will not pre- 
tend to describe my sensations, but they were a strange 
mixture of apprehension, disquiet, hope, and natural attach- 
ment. I wished much to see my sister, but was afraid to 
venture on that. 

There was a family, however, of the name of Fraser, that 
lived near the shore, with which I had been well acquainted, 
and in whose members I had great confidence. They were 
respectable in position, its head being called a judge, and 
they were all intimate with the Marchintons. To the Era- 
sers, then, I went ; Jack keeping me company. I was 
afraid, if I knocked, the servant would not let me in, ap- 
pearing, as I did, in the dress of a common sailor; so I 
opened the street-door without any ceremony, and went 
directly to that of the parlour, which I entered before there 
was time to stop me. Jack brought up in the entry. 

Mrs. Fraser and her daughter were seated together, on a 
settee, and the judge was reading at a table. My sudden 
apparition astonished them, and all three gazed at me in 
silence. Mr. Fraser then said, " In the name of heaven, 
where did you come from, Edward I" I told him I had 
been in the American service, but that I now belonged to an 
English transport that was to sail in the morning, and that 
I had just come ashore to inquire how all hands did ; par- 
ticularly my sister. He told me that my sister was living, 
a married woman, in Halifax ; that Mr. Marchinton was 
dead, and had grieved very much at my disappearance ; 
that I was supposed to be dead. He then gave me much 
advice as to my future course, and leminded me how much 
I had lost by my early mistakes. He was particularly 



A lilFB BEFORE THE MAST. 89 

nnxious I should quit my adopted country, and wished me 
to remain in Halitax. He offered to send a servant with 
me to find my sister, but I was afraid to let my presence be 
known to so many. I begged my visit might be kept a 
secret, as I felt ashamed of being seen in so humble circum- 
stances. I was well treated, as was Jack Mallet, both of 
us receiving wine and cake, &c. Mr. Fraser also gave me 
a guinea, and as I went away, Mrs. Fraser slipped a pound 
note into my hand. The latter said to me, in a whisper — 
" I know what you are afraid of, but I shall tell Harriet of 
your visit ; she will be secret." 

I staid about an hour, receiving every mark of kindness 
from these excellent and respectable people, leaving them to 
believe we were to sail in the morning. When we got 
back to the transport no one kne\y of our absence, and no- 
thing was ever said of our taking the boat. The Regulus 
did not sail for twenty hours after this, but I had no more 
communication with the shore. We got to sea, at last, two 
transports, under the convoy of the Pictou. 

During the whole passage, we eight prisoners kept a sharp 
look-out for a chance to get possession of the ship. We 
were closely watched, there being a lieutenant and his boat's 
crew on board, besides the Canadians, the master, mate, &c. 
All the arms were secreted, and nothing was left at hand, 
that we could use in a rising. 

About mid passage, it blowing fresh, with the ship under 
double-reefed topsails, I was at the weather, with one of the 
Canadians at the lee, wheel. Mallet was at work in the lar- 
board, or weather, mizen chains, ready to lend me a hand. 
At this moment the Pictou came up under our lee, to speak 
us in relation to carrying a light during the night. Her 
masts swung so she could not carry one herself, and her 
commander wished us to carry our top-light, he keeping near 
it, instead of our keeping near him. The schooner came 
very close to us, it blowing heavily, and Mallet called out, 
" Ned, now is your time. Up helm and into him. A couple 
of seas will send him down." This was said loud enough 
to be heard, though all on deck were attending to the 
schooner ; and, as for the Canadian, he did not understand 
English. I managed to get the helm hard up, and Mallet 
jumped inboard. The ship fell off fast ; but the lieutenant. 
8* 



90 N£DMY£RS;OR, 

who was on board as an agent, was standing in the compa« 
nion-way with his wife, and, the instant he saw what I had 
done, he ran aft, struck me a sharp blow, and put the hehn 
hard down with his own hands. This saved the Pictou, 
though there was a great outcry on board her. The Heu- 
tenant's wife screamed, and there was a pretty uproar for a 
mij^ute, in every direction. As the Regulus luffed-to, her 
jib-boom-end just cleared the Pictou's forward rigging, and 
a man might almost have jumped from the ship to the 
schooner, as we got alongside of each other. Another mi- 
nute, and we should have travelled over His Majesty's 
schooner, like a rail-road car going over a squash. 

The lieutenant now denounced us, and we prisoners were 
all put in irons. I am merely relating facts. How far we 
were right, I leave others to decide ; but it must be remem- 
bered that Jack had, in that day, a mortal enmity to a British 
man-of-war, which was a little too apt to lay hands on all 
that she fell in with, on the high seas. Perhaps severe mo- 
ralists might say that we had entered into a bargain with the 
captain of the Regulus, not to make war on him during the 
passage ; in answer to which, we can reply that we were 
not attacking him, but the Pictou. Our intention, it must 
be confessed, however, was to seize the Regulus in the con- 
fusion. Had we been better treated as prisoners, our tem- 
pers might not have been so savage. But we got no good 
treatment, except for our own work ,• and, being hedged in 
in this manner, common sailors reason very much as they 
feel. We were not permitted to go at large again, in the 
Regulus, in which the English were very right, as Jack 
Mallet, in particular, was a man to put his shipmates up to 
almost any enterprise. 

The anchor was hardly down, at Bermuda, before a signal 
was made to the Goliah, razee, for a boat, and we were sent 
on board that ship. This was a cruising vessel, and she 
went to sea next morning. We were distributed about the 
ship, and ordered to go to work. The intention, evidently. 
was to swallow us all in the enormous maw of the British 
navy. We I'efused to do duty, however, to a man; mosi 
of our fellows being pretty bold, as native Americans. We 
were a fortnight in this situation, the greater part of the time 
playing green, with our tin pots slung round ou'* necks. Wh 



A LIFE liGFORE THE MAST. 91 

did so much of this, that the people began to laugh at us, ua 
real Johnny Raws, thoUi.;h the old salts knew better. The 
last even helped us aiv^ng, some giving us clothes, extra grog, 
and otherwise being vsry kind to us. The other, -^ treated 
us pretty well, too, all ti^uigs considered. None of us got 
flogged, nor were we evea threatened with the gangway. 
At length the plan was changed. The boatswain was asked 
if he got anything out of us, and, making a bad report, we 
were sent down to the lower gun-deck, under a sentry's 
charge, and put at " six upon four," again. Here we remained 
until the ship went into Bermuda, after a six weeks' cruise. 
This vessel, an old seventy-four cut down, did not answer, 
for she was soon after sent to England. I overheard her 
officers, from our berth near the bulkhead, wishing to fall in 
with the President, Commodore Rodgers — a vessel they fan- 
cied they could easily handle. I cannot say they could not, 
but one day an elderly man among them spoke very ration 
ally on the subject, saying, they might, or they might not 
get the best of it in such a fight. For his part, he did not 
wish to see any such craft, with the miserable crew they had 
in the Goliah. 

We found the Ramilies, Sir Thomas Hardy, lying in 
Bermuda roads. This ship sent a boat, which took us 
on board the Ardent, 64, which was then used as a prison- 
ship. About a week before we reached this vessel an 
American midshipman got hold of a boat, and effected his 
escape, actually making the passage between Bermuda and 
Cape Henry all alone, by himself.* In consequence of this 
unusual occurrence, a bright look out was kept on all the 
boats, thus defeating one of our plans, which was to get off 
in the same way. When we reached the Ardent, we found 
but four Americans in her. After we had been on board 
her about a week, three men joined us, who had given 
themselves up on board English men-of-war, as native 
Amfericans. One of these men, whose name was Baily, 
had been fourteen years in the English service, into which 
he had been pressed, his protection having been torn up be- 
fore his face. He was a Connecticut man, and had given 

— * ^ . 

* The name of this young officer was King. He is now dead, 
having been lost in the Lynx, Li. Madison. — Editop. 



92 N£DMYERS;OR, 

himself up at the commencement of the war, getting Three 
dozen for his pains. He was then sent on the Halifax sta- 
tion, where he gave himself up again. He received three 
dozen more, then had his shirt thrown over his back and 
was sent to us. I saw the back and the shirt, myself, and 
Baily said he would keep the last to be buried with him. 
Bradbury and Patrick were served very much in the same 
manner. I saw all their backs, and give the remainder of 
the story, as they gave it to me. Baily and Bradbury got 
off in season to join the Constitution, and to make the last 
cruise in her during this war. I afterwards fell in with 
Bradbury, who mentioned this circumstance to me. 

It is good to have these things known, for I do believe the 
English nation would be averse to men's receiving such 
treatment, could they fairly be made to understand it. It 
surely is bad enough to be compelled to fight the battles of 
a foreign country, without being flogged for not fighting 
them when they happen to be against one's own people. For 
myself, I was born, of German parents, in the English ter- 
ritory, it is true ; but America was, and ever has been, the 
country of my choice, and, while yet a child, I may say, I 
decided for myself to sail under the American flag; and, if 
my father had a right to make an Englishman of me, by 
taking service under the English crown, I think I had a 
right to make myself what I pleased, when he had left me 
iO get on as I could, without his counsel and advice. 

After being about three weeks in the Ardent, we eight 
prisoners were sent on board the Ramilies, to be tried as 
Englishmen who had been fighting against their king. The 
trial took place on board the Asia, 74, a flag-ship ; but we 
ived in the Ramihes, during the time the investigation was 
going on. Sir Thomas Hardy held several conversations 
with me, on the quarter-deck, in which he manifested great 
kindness of feeling. He inquired whether I was really an 
American ; but I evaded any direct answer. I told 'him, 
however, that I had been an apprentice, in New York, in 
the employment of Jacob Barker ; which was true, in one 
sense, as Mr. Barker was the consignee of the Sterling, and 
knew of my indentures. I mentioned him, as a pei'son 
more likely to be known than Captain Johnston. Sir Tho- 
mas said he had some knowledge of Mr. Barker ; and, I 



A LIF£ BEFORE THE MAST. 93 

Jiink, 1 have heard that they were, in some way, connected 
This was laying an anchor to- windward, as it turned out, in 
.he end. 

We were all on board the Asia, for trial, or investigation, 
two days, before I was sent for into the cabin. I was very 
much frightened ; and scarce kne\^what I said, or did. It is 
a cruel thing to leave sailors without counsel, on such occa- 
sions J though the officers behaved very kindly and conside- 
rately to me ; and, I believe, to all of us. There were 
several officers seated round a table ; and all were in swabs. 
They said, the gentleman who presided, was a Sir Borlase 
Warren, the admiral on the station.* This gentleman, 
whoever he was, probably saw that I was frightened. He 
slewed himself round, in his chair, and said to me ; " My 
man; you need not be alarmed ; we know rvko you are, and 
what you are ; but your apprenticeship will be of great ser- 
vice to you." This was not said, however, until Sir Thomas 
Hardy had got out the story of my being an apprentice in 
Jacob Barker's employ, again, before them all, in the cabin. 
I was told to send for a copy of my indentures, by one of 
the white-washed Swedes, that sailed between Bermuda and 
New York. This I did, that very day. I was in the cabin 
of the Asia, half an hour, perhaps ; and I felt greatly relieved, 
when I got out of it. It was decided, in my presence, to 
send me "back among the prisoners, on board the Ardent. 
The same decision was made, as to the whole eight of as, 
that had come on in the Regulus. 

When we got back to the Ramilies, Sir Thomas Hardy 
had some more conversation with me. I have thought, ever 
since, that he knew something about my birth, and of my 
being the prince's godson. He wished me to join the British 
service, seemingly, very much, and encouraged me with the 
hope of being promoted. But, it is due to myself, to say, I 
held out against it all. I do not believe America had a 
truer heart, in her service, than mine ; and I do not think an 
English commission would have bought me. I have nothing 

* If this be true, this could hardly have been a court, but must have 
been a mere investigation ; as Sir John Borlase Warren was com- 
mander-in-chfef, and would scarcely sit in a court of his own order- 
ing. — Editor. 



94 MEDMY£RS;OIl, 

Lo hope, from saying this, for I am now old, and a cripple 
. but, as I have sat down to relate the truth, let the truth be 
told, whether it tell for, or against me. 

We were now sent back to the Ardent ; where we re- 
mained three weeks, or a month, longer. During this time 
we got our papers from New York ; I receiving a copy of 
my indentures, together with the sum often dollars; which 
reached me through Sir Thomas Hardy, as I understood. 
Nothing more was ever said, to any of the eight, about their 
being Englishmen ; the whole of us being treated as prisoners 
of war. Prisoners arrived fast, until we had four hundred 
in the Ardent. The old Ruby, a forty-four, on two decks, 
was obliged to receive some of them. Most of these prisoners 
were privateersmen ; though there were a few soldiers, and 
some citizens that had been picked up in Chesapeake Bay. 
Before we left Bermuda, the crew of a French frigate was 
put into the Ardent, to the number of near four hundred 
men. In the whole, we must have had eight hundred souls, 
and all on one deck. This was close stowage, and I was 
heartily glad when I quitted the ship. 

Soon after the French arrived, four hundred of us Ameri- 
cans were put on board transports, and we sailed for Hali- 
fax, under the convoy of the Ramilies. A day or two after 
we got out, we fell in with an American privateer, which 
continued hovering around us for several days. As this 
was a bold fellow, frequently coming within gun-shot, and 
sporting his sticks and canvass in all sorts of ways, Sir 
Thomas Hardy felt afraid he would get one of the four 
transports, and he took all us prisoners into the Ramilies, 
We staid in the ship the rest of the passage, and when we 
went into Halifax it was all alone, the four transports hav- 
ing disappeared. Two of them subsequently got in ; but 1 
think the other two were actually taken by that saucy 
fellow. 

The prisoners, at first, had great liberty allowed them, on 
hoard the Ramilies. On all occasions. Sir Thomas Hardy 
treated the Americans well. A party of marines was sta- 
tioned on the poop, and another on the forecastle, and the 
ship's people had arms ,* but this was all the precaution that 
was used. The opportunity tempted some of our men to 
plan a rising, with a view to seize the ship. Privateei 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 95 

officers were at the head of this scheme, which was com- 
municafed to me, among others, soon after the plot was laid. 
Most of the prisoners knew of the intention, and everybody 
seemed to enter into the affair with hearty good-will. Our 
design was to rise at the end of the second dog-watch, over- 
come the crew, and carry the ship upon our own coast. If 
unable to pass the blockading squadrons, we intended to run 
her ashore. The people of the Ramilies outnumbered us by 
near one-half, Etnd they had arms, it is true ; but we trusted 
to the effect of a surprise, and something to the disposition 
of most English sailors to get quit of their own service. 
Had the attempt been made, from what I saw of the crew, 
I think our main trouble would have been with the officers 
and the marines. We were prevented from trying the ex- 
periment, however, in consequence of having been betrayed 
by some one who was in the secret, the whole of us being 
suddenly sent into the cable tiers and amongst the water 
casks, under the vigilant care of sentinels posted in the 
wings. After that, we were allowed to come on deck sin- 
gly, only, and then under a sentinel's charge. When Sir 
Thomas spoke to us concerning this change of treatment, 
he did not abuse us for our plan, but was mild and reason- 
able, while he reminded us of the necessity of what he was 
doing. I have no idea he would have been in the least 
injured, had we got possession of the ship ; for, to the last, 
our people praised him, and the treatment they received, 
while under his orders. 

Before we were sent below, Sir Thomas spoke to me 
again, on the subject of my joining the English service. He 
was quite earnest about it, and reasoned with me like a 
father ; but I was determined not to yield. I did not like 
England, and I did like America. My birth in Quebec was 
a thing I could not help ; but having chosen to serve under 
the American flag, and having done so now for years, I did 
not choose to go over to the enemy. 

At Halifax, fifteen or twenty of us were sent on board the 
old Centurion, 44, Lord Anson's ship, as retaliation-men. 
We eight were of the number. We found something like 
thirty more in the ship, all retaliation-men, like ourselves. 
Those we found in the Centurion did not appear to me to 
be foremast Jacks, but struck me as being citizens from 



96 N£:dmyi:rs;or, 

ashore. We were well treated, however, suffering no other 
confinement than that of the ship. We were on " six upon 
four," it is true, like other prisoners, but our own country 
gave us small stores, and extra bread and beef. In the way 
of grub, we fared like sailor kings. At the end of three 
weeks, we eight lakesmen were sent to Melville Island, 
among the great herd of prisoners. I cannot explain the 
reason of all these changes ; but I know that when the gate 
was shut on us, the turnkey said we had go&e into a home 
that would last as long as the war lasted. 

Melville is an island of more than a mile in circumference, 
with low, rocky shores. It lies about three miles from the 
town of Halifax, but not in sight. It is connected with the 
main by a bridge that is thrown across a narrow passage 
of something like a quarter of a mile in width. In the cen- 
tre of the island is an eminence, which was occupied by the 
garrison, and had some artillery. This eminence com- 
manded the whole island. Another post on the main, also, 
commanded the prisoners' barracks. These barracks were 
ordinary wooden buildings, enclosed on the side of the island 
with a strong stone wall, and on the side of the post on the 
main, by high, open palisades. Of course, a sufficient guard 
was maintained. 

It was said there were about twelve hundred Americans 
on the island, when I passed the gate. Among them were 
a few French, some of whom were a part of the crew of the 
Ville de Milan, the ship that had been taken before I first 
left Halifax ; or more than eight years previously to this time. 
This did, indeed, look like the place's being a home to a 
poor fellow, and I did not relish the circumstance at all. 
Among our people were soldiers, sailors, and 'long-shore- 
men. There was no difference in the treatment, which, for 
a prison, was good. We got only " six upon four" from the 
English, of course ; but our own country made up the differ- 
ence here, as on board the Centurion. They had a prison 
dress, with one leg of the trowsers yellow and the other blue, 
&;c. ; but we would not stand that. Our agent managed the 
matter so that we got regular jackets and trowsers of the 
true old colour. The poor Frenchmen looked like pea- 
cocks in their dress, but we did not envy them their finery. 

I had been on the island about a fortnight, when I was 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 9? 

.old by Jack Mallet that a woman, whom he thought to be 
my sister, was at the gate. Jack knew my whole history, 
and came to his opinion from a resemblance that he saw 
between me and the person who had inquired for me. I 
refused to go to l/ie gate, however, to see who it was, and 
Jack was sent back to tell the woman that I had been left 
behind at Bermuda. He was directed to throw in a few 
hints about the expediency of her not coming back to look 
for me, and that it would be better if she never named me. 
All this was done, I getting a berth from which I could see 
the female. I knew her in a moment, although she was 
married, and had a son with her, and my heart was very 
near giving way, especially when I saw her shedding 
tears. She went away from the gate, however, going up 
on the ramparts, from which she could look down into the 
prison-yardi There she remained an hour, as if she wished 
to satisfy her own eyes as to the truth of Jack's story ; but I 
(ook good care to keep out of her sight. 

As I knew there was little hope of an exchange of pri- 
soners, I now began to think of the means of making my 
escape. Jack Mallet dared not attempt to swim, on ac- 
count of the rheumatism and cramps, having narrowly es- 
caped drowning at Bermuda, and he could not join in our 
■ichemes. As for myself, I have been able to swim ever 
gince danger taught me the important lesson, the night the 
Scourge went down. Money would be necessary to aid me 
m escaping, and Jack and I put our heads together, in order 
to raise some. I had still the ten dollars given me by Sir 
Thomas Hardy, and I commenced operations by purchasing 
shares in a dice-board, a vingt et un table, and a quino 
table.* Jack Mallet and I, also, set up a shop, on a capital 
of three dollars. We sold smoked herring, pipes, tobacco, 
segars, spruce beer, and, as chances of smuggling it in 
offered, now and then a little Jamaica. All this time, the 
number of the prisoners increased, until, in the end, we got 
to have a full prison, when they began to send them to Eng 
land. Only one of the Julias was sent away, however, all 
the rest remaining at Melville Island, from some cause I 
cannot explain. 

* Ned means Loto, probably. — Editor, 



98 ft ifi 1> >1 Y E K Sj O K, 

I cannot say we made money very last. On every shil 
ling w^on at dice, we received a penny ; at vingt et wi, the 
commission was the same ; as it was also at the other 
games. Noav cards, however, brought a little higher rate. 
AH this was wrong I now know, but then it gave me very 
little trouble. I hope I would not do the same thing over 
again, even to make my escape from Melville Island, bu' 
one never knows to what distress may drive him. 

Some person among the American prisoners — a soldier it 
was said — commenced counterfeiting Spanish dollare. I 
am afraid most of us helped to circulate them. We though' 
it no harm to cheat the people of the canteens, for we knew 
they were doing all they could to cheat us. This was pri- 
son morality, in war-time, and I say nothing in its favour ; 
though, for myself, I will own I felt more of the conscious- 
ness of wrong-doing in holding the shares in the gambling 
establishments, than in giving bad dollars for poor rum. 
The counterfeiting business was destroyed by one of the 
dollars happening to break, as some of the officers were 
pitching them ,• when, on examination, it turned out that 
most of the money in the prison was bad. It was said the 
people of the canteens had about four hundred of the dollars 
when they came to overhaul their lockers. A good many 
found their way info Halifax. 

My trade lasted all winter — (that of 1813 — 14,) and by 
March I had gained the sum of eighty French crowns. 
Dollars I was afraid to hold on account of the base money. 
The ice now began to give way, and a few of us, who had 
been discussing the matter all winter, set about forming se- 
rious plans to escape. My confederates were a man of the 
name of Johnson, who had been taken in the Snapdragon 
privateer, and an Irishman of the name of Littlefield. Bar- 
net, the Mozambique man, joined us also, making four in all. 
It was quite early in the month, when we made the attempt. 
Our windows were long, and had perpendicular bars of 
wrought iron to secure them, but, no cross-bars. There was 
no glass ; but outside shutters, that we could open at our 
pleasure. Outside of the windows were sentinels, and there 
were two rows of pickets between us and the shore. 

I put my crowns in a belt around my waist. Another 
belt, or slun, was filled with rum, for the double purpose 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. i)9 

of buoying me in the water, and of comforting me when 
ashore. At that day, I found rum one of the great blessings 
of life; now I look upon it as one of the greatest evils. My 
companions made similar provisions of money and rum, 
though neither was as rich as myself. I left Mallet and 
Leonard Lewis my heirs at law if I escaped, and my trus- 
tees should I be caught. Lewis was a young man of better 
origin than most in the prison, and I have always thought 
some calamity drove him to the seas. He was in ill health, 
and did not appear to be destined to a long life. He would 
have joined us, heart and hand, but was not strong enough 
to endure the fatigue which we well knew we must undergo, 
before we could get clear. 

The night selected for the attempt was so cold, dark, and 
dismal, as to drive all the sentinels into their boxes. It 
rained hard, in the bargain. About eight, or as soon as the 
lights were out, we got the lanyards of our hammocks 
around two of the window bars, and using a bit of fire- wood 
for a heaver, we easily brought them together. This left 
room for our bodies to pass out, without any difficulty. Jack 
Mallet, and those we left behind, hove tha bars straight 
again, so that the keepers were at a loss to know how we 
had got off. We met with no obstacle between the prison 
and the water. The pickets we removed, having cut them 
in the day-time. In a word, all four of us reached the shore 
of the Island in two or three minutes after we had taken 
leave of our messmates. The difficulty lay before us. We 
entered into the water, at once, and began to swim. When 
I was a few rods from the place of landing, which was quite 
near the guard-house, on the main, Johnson began to sing 
out that he was drowning. I told him to be quiet, but it was 
of no use. The guard on the main heard him, and com- 
menced firing, and of course we swam all the harder. 
Three of us were soon ashore, and, knowing the roads well, 
I led them in a direction to avoid the soldiers. By running 
into the woods, we gob clear, though poor Johnson fell again 
into the hands of the enemy. He deserved it for bawling as 
he did ; it being the duty of a man in such circumstances to 
He with a shut mouth. 



iOO NED MYERS; OR, 



CHAPTER IX. 

The thi'ee who had escaped ran, for a quarter of a mile, 
in the woods, when we brought up, and took a drink. Hear- 
ing no more firing, or any further alarm, we now consulted 
as to our future course. There were some mills at the head 
of the bay, about four miles from the guard-house, and I led 
the party thither. We reached the place towards morning, and 
found a berth in them before any one was stirring. We hid 
ourselves in an old granary ; but no person appeared near 
the place throughout the next day. We had put a little 
bread and a few herrings in our hats, and on these we sub- 
sisted. The rum cheered us up, and, if rum ever did good, 
I think it was to us on that occasion. We slept soundly, 
with one man on the look-out ; a rule we observed the whole 
time we were out. It stopped raining' in the course of the 
day, though the weather was bitter cold. 

Next night we got under way, and walked in a direction 
which led us within three miles of the town. In doing this, 
we passed the Prince's Lodge, a place where I had often 
been, and the sight of which reminded me of home, and of 
my childish days. There was no use in regrets, however, 
and we pushed ahead. The men saw my melancholy, and 
they questioned me; but I evaded the answer, pretending 
that nothing ailed me. There was a tavern about a league 
from the town, kept by a man of the name of Grant, and 
Littlefield ventured into it. He bought a small cheese and a 
loaf of bread ; getting off clear, though not unsuspected. 
This helped us along famously, and we pushed on as fast as 
we could. Before morning we came near a bridge, on which 
there was a sentinel posted, with a guard-house near its end. 
To avoid this danger, we turned the guard-house, striking 
the river above the bridge. Here we met two Indians, and 
fell into discourse with them. Our rum now served us a 
better turn than ever, buying the Indians in a minute. W^e 
told these chaps we were deserters from the Bulwark, 74, 
and begged them to help us along. At first, they thought 
wc were Yankees, whom they evidently disliked, and thai 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 101 

right heartily ; but the story of the desertion took, and made 
them disposed to serve us. 

These two Indians led us down to the bed of the river, 
and actually carried us beneath the bridge, on the side of 
the river next the guard, where we found a party of about 
thirty of these red-skins, men, women and children. Here 
we stayed no less than three days ; faring extremely well, 
having fish, bread, butter, and other common food. The 
weather was very bad, and we did not like to turn out in it, 
besides, thinking the search for us might be less keen after 
a short delay. All this time, we were within a few rods of 
the guard, hearing the sentinels cry " all's well," from half- 
hour to half-hour. We were free with our rum, and, aa 
much as we dared to be, with our money. These people 
never betrayed us. 

The third night we left the bridge, guided by a young 
Indian. He led us about two miles up the river, passing 
through the Maroon town in the night, after which he left 
us. We wished him to keep on with us for some distance 
further, but he refused. He quitted us near morning, and 
we turned into a deserted log-house, on the banks of the 
river, where we passed the day. The country was thinly 
populated, and the houses we saw were poor and mean- 
We must now have been about five-and-twenty miles from 
Halifax. 

Our object was to cross the neck of land between tht* 
Atlantic and the Bay of Fundy, and to get to Annapolis 
Royal, where we expected to be able to procure a boat, by 
fair means if we could, by stealth if necessary, and cross 
over to the American shore. We had still a long road be- 
fore us, and had some little difficulty to find the way. The 
Indians, however, gave us directions that greatly assisted 
us ; and we travelled a long bit, and pretty fast all that 
night. In the morning, the country had more the appear- 
ance of being peopled and cultivated, and I suspected we 
were getting into the vicinity of Horton, a place through 
which it would be indispensable to pass. The weather became 
bad again, and it was necessary to make a halt. Coming 
near a log-house, we sent Littlefield ahead to make some 
nquiries of a woman who appeared to be in it alone. On 
nis return, he reported well of the woman. He had t M 
9* 



102 NED MYERS; OK, 

lier we were deserters from the Bulwark, and had promisf^d 
to pay her if she would let us stay about her premises that 
day, and get us something to eat. The woman had con- 
sented to our occupying an out-house, and had agreed to 
buy the provisions. We now took possession of the out- 
house, where the woman visited us, and getting some money, 
she left us in quest of food. We were uneasy during her 
absence, but she came back with some meat, eggs, bread, 
and butter, at the end of an hour, and all seemed right. We 
made two comfortable meals in this out-house, where we 
remained until near evening. I had the look-out about noon, 
and I saw a man hanging about the house, and took the 
alarm. The man did not stay long, however, and I got a 
nap as soon as he disappeared. About four we were all up, 
and one of us taking a look, saw this same man, and two 
others, go into the house. The woman had already told us 
that a party of soldiers had gone ahead, in pursuit of three 
Yankee runaways ; that four had broken prison, but one 
had been retaken, and the rest were still out. This left lit- 
tle doubt that she knew who we were ; and we thought it 
best to steal away, at once, lest the men in the house should 
be consulting with her, at that very moment, about selling 
us for the reward, which we know was always four pounds 
ahead. The out-house was near the river, and there was a 
good deal of brush growing along the banks, and we suc- 
ceeded in getting away unseen. 

We went down to the margin, under the bank, and pui 
sued our way along the stream. Before it was dark w( 
came in sight of the bridge, for which we had been travel 
ling ever since we left the other bridge, and were sorry tc 
see a sentry-box on it. We now halted for a council, and 
came to a determination to wait until dark, and then ad 
vance. This we did, getting. under this bridge, as we had 
done with the other. We had no Indians, however, to com 
fort and feed us. 

I had known a good deal of this part of the country when 
a boy, from the circumstance that Mr. Marchinton had a 
large farm, near a place called Cornwallis, on the Bay, 
where I had even spent whole summers with the family. 
This bridge I recollected well ; and I remembered there was 
a ford a little on one side of it, when the tide was out. Tho 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 103 

tides are tremendous in lliis part of the world, and we did 
not dare to steal a boat here, lest we should be caught in one 
of the bores, as they are called, when the tide came in. It 
was now half ebb, and we resolved to wait, and try the 
ford. 

It was quite dark when we left the bridge, and we had a 
delicate bit of work before us. The naked flats were very 
wide, and we sallied out, with the bridge as our guide. I 
was up to my middle in mud, at times, but the water was 
not very deep. We must have been near an hour in the 
mud, for we were not exactly on the proper ford, of course, 
and made bad navigation of it in the dark. But we were 
afraid to lose sight of the bridge, lest we should get all adrift. 

At length we reached the firm ground, covered with mud 
and chilled with cold. We found the road, and the village 
of Horton, and skirted the last, until all was clear. Then 
we took to the road, and carried sail hard all night. When- 
ever we saw any one, we hid ourselves, but we met few 
while travelling. Next morning we walked until we came 
to a deserted saw-mill, which I also remembered, and here 
we halted for the day. No one troubled us, nor did I see 
any one ; but Littlefield said that a man drove a herd of 
cattle past, during his watch on deck. 

I told my companions that night, if they would be busy, 
we might reach Cornwallis, where I should be at home. We 
were pretty well fagged, and wanted rest, for Jack is no 
great traveller ashore ; and I promised the lads a good snug 
berth at Mr. Marchinton's farm. We pushed ahead briskly, 
in consequence, and I led the party up to the farm, just as 
day was dawning. A Newfoundland dog, named Hunter, 
met us with some ferocity ; but, on my calling him by name, 
he was pacified, and began to leap on me, and to caress me. 
I have always thought that dog knew me, after an absence 
of so many years. There was no time to waste with dogs, 
however, and we took the way to the barn. We had wit 
nough not to get on the hay, but to throw ourselves on a 
niow filled with straw, as the first was probably in use. 
Here we went to sleep, with one man on the look-out. This 
was the warmest and most comfortable rest we had got since 
quitting the island, fi'om which we had now been ab?=pnt 
pitri-it or nine da vs. 



104 NED MYERS; OR, 

We remained one night and two days in this barn. The 
workmen entered it often, and even stayed some time on the 
barn-floor ; but no one seemed to think of ascending our 
mow. The dog kept much about the place, and I was greatly 
afraid he would be the means of betraying us. Our provi- 
sions were getting low, and, the night we were at the farm 
I sallied out, accompanied by Barnet, and we made our way 
into the dairy. Here we found a pan of bread, milk, cheese, 
butter, eggs, and codfish. Of course, we took our fill of 
milk ; but Barnet got hold of a vessel of sour cream, and 
came near hallooing out, when he had taken a good pull at 
it. As we returned to the barn, the geese set up an outcry, 
and glad enough was I to find myself safe on the mow again, 
without being discovered. Next day, however, we overheard 
the men in the barn speaking of the robbery, and complain- 
ing, in particular, of the uselessness of the dog. I did not 
know any of these persons, although a young man appeared 
among them, this day, who I fancied had been a playfellow 
of mine, when a boy. I could not trust him, or any one 
else there ; and all the advantage we got from the farm, was 
through my knowledge of the localities, and of the habits of 
the place. 

I had never been further on the road between Halifax and 
Annapolis, than to Cornwallis. The rest of the distance 
was unknown to me, though I was familiar with the route 
which went out of Cornwallis, and which was called the An- 
napolis road. It was a fine star-light evening, and we made 
good headway. We all felt refreshed, and journeyed on full 
stomachs. We did not meet a soul, though we travelled 
through a well-settled country. The next morning we halted 
in a wood, the weather being warm and pleasant. Here we 
slept and rested as usual, and were off again at night. Lit* 
ilefield pinned three fowls as we went along, declaring that 
he intended to have a warm mess next day, and he got off 
without discovery. About four o'clock in the morning, we 
fell in with a river, and left the highway, following the banks 
of the stream for a short distance. It now came on to blow 
and ram, with the wind on shore, and we saw it would no/ 
do to get a boat and go out in such a time. There was a 
rising ground, in a thick wood, near us, and we went up the 
hill to pass the day. We had seen two men pulling ashore 



A. lilFE BEFORE THE MAST. 105 

in a good-looking boat, and it was our determination to get 
this boat, and shape our course down stream to the Bay, as 
soon as it moderated. From the hill, we could overlook the 
river, and the adjacent country. We saw the fishermen 
land, take their sail and oars out of the boat, haul the latter 
up, turn her over, and stow their sails and oars beneath her. 
They had a breaker of fresh water, too, and everything 
seemed fitted for our purposes. We liked the craft, and, 
what is more, we liked the cruise. 

We could not see the town of Annapolis, which turned 
out to be up-stream from us, though we afterwards ascer- 
tained that we were within a mile or two of it. The fisher- 
men walked in the direction of the town, and disappeared. 
All we wanted now was tolerably good weather, with a fair 
wind, or, at least, with less wind. The blow had driven in 
th-e fishermen, and we thought it wise to be governed by 
their experience. Nothing occurred in the course of the 
day, the weather remaining the same, and we being exposed 
to the rain, with no other cover than trees without leaves. 
There were many pines, however, and they gave us a little 
shelter. 

At dusk, Littlefield lighted a fire, and began to cook his 
fowls. The supper was soon ready, and we eat it with a 
good relish. We then went to sleep, leaving Barnet on the 
look-out. I had just got into a good sleep, when I was 
awoke by the tramp of horses, and the shouting of men. 
On springing up, I found that a party of five horsemen were 
upon us. One called out — " Here they are — we 've found 
them at last." This left no doubt of their errand, and we 
were all retaken. Our arms were tied, and we were made 
to mount behind the horsemen, when they rode off with us, 
taking the road by which we had come. We went but a 
tew miles that night, when we halted. 

We were taken the whole distance to Halifax, in this 
manner, riding on great-coats, without stirrups, the horses 
on a smart walk. We did not go by Cornwallis, which, it 
seems, was not the nearest road ; but we passed through 
Horton, and crossed the bridge, beneath which we had 
waded through the mud. At Horton we passed a night. 
We were confined in a sort of a prison, that was covered 
with mud. We did not like our berths ; and, finding thai 



106 NED MYERS; OR, 

the logs, of which the building was made, were rotten, wo 
actually worked our way through them, and got fairly out. 
Littlefield, who was as reckless an Irishman as ever lived, 
swore he would set fire to the place ; which he did, by re- 
turning through the hole we had made, and getting up into 
a loft, that was dry and combustible. But for this silly act, 
we might have escaped ; and, as it was, we did get off for 
the I'est of the night, being caught, next morning, nearly 
down, again, by the bridge at Windsor. 

This time, our treatment was a good deal worse, than at 
first. A sharp look-out was kept, and they got us back to 
Halifax, without any more adventures. We were pretty 
well fagged ; though we had to taper off with the black hole, 
and bread and water, for the next ten days ; the regular 
punishment for such misdemeanors as ours. At the end of 
the ten days, we were let out, and came together again. 
Our return brought about a great deal of discussion ; and, 
not a little criticism, as to the prudence of our course. To 
hear the chaps talk, one would think every man among 
them could have got off, had he been in our situation ; though 
none of them did any better ; several having got off the 
island, in our absence, and been retaken, within the first 
day or two. While I was in prison, however, I remember 
but one man who got entirely clear. This was a privateers- 
man, from Marblehead ; who did get fairly off; though ho 
was back again, in six weeks, having been taken once more, 
a few days out. 

We adventurers were pretty savage, about our failure ; 
and, the moment we were out of the black hole, we began 
to lay our heads together for a new trial. My idea was, to 
steer a different course, in the new attempt ; making the bes' 
of our way towards Liverpool, which lay to the southward, 
coastwise. This would leave us on the Atlantic, it was 
true ; but our notion was, to ship in a small privateer, called 
the Liverpool, and then run our chance of getting off from 
her ; as she was constantly crossing over to the American 
coast. As this craft was quite small, and often had but few 
hands in her, we did not know but we might get hold of the 
schooner itself. Then there was some probability of being 
put in a coaster ; which we might run away with. At all 
events, any chance seemed belter to us, than that of remain* 



A. LIFE BEFORi: THE MAST. 107 

Jig in prison, until the end of a war that might last years, 
or until we got to be grey-headed. I remembered, when the 
Ville de Milan was brought into Halifax ; this was a year, or 
two, before I went to sea ; and yet here were some of her 
people still, on Melville Island ! 

I renewed my trade as soon as out of the Black Hole, 
but did not give up the idea of escaping. Leonard Lewis 
and Jack Mallet were the only men we let into the secret. 
They both declined joining us ; Mallet on account of his 
dread of the water, and Lewis, because certain he could not 
outlive the fatigue ; but they wished us good luck, and aided 
us all they could. With Johnson we would have no further 
concern. 

The keepers did not ascertain the means by which we had 
left the barracks, though they had seen the cut pickets of 
course. We did not attempt, therefore, to cut through again, 
but resolved to climb. The English had strengthened the 
pickets with cross-pieces, which were a great assistance to 
us, and I now desire to express my thanks for the same. 
We waited for a warm, but dark and rainy night in May, 
before we commenced our new movement. We had still 
plenty of money, I having brought back with me to prison 
forty crowns, and having driven a thriving trade in the in- 
terval. We got out through the bars, precisely as we had 
done before, and at the very same window. This was a 
small job. After climbing the pickets, either Littlefield or 
Barnet dropped on the outside, a little too carelessly, and 
was overheard. The sentinel immediately called for the 
corporal of the guard, but we were in the water, swimming 
quite near the bridge, and some little distance from the guard- 
house on the main. There was a stir on the island, while 
we were in the water, but we all got ashore, safe and un- 
seen. 

We took to the same woods as before, but turned south in- 
stead of west. Our route brought us along by the water- 
side, and we travelled hard all that night. Littlefield pre- 
tended to be our guide, but we got lost, and remained two 
days and nights in the woods, without food, and completely 
at fault as to which way to steer. At length we ventured 
out into a high-way, by open day-light, and good luck threw 
in old Irish seaman, who then lived by fishing, in our way. 



108 NED MYERS; OR, 

After a little conversation, we told this old man , we wore 
deserters from a vessel of war, and he seemed to like us all 
the better for it. He had served himself, and had a son 
impressed, and seemed to like the English navy little better 
than we did ourselves. He took us to a hut on the beach, 
and fed us with fish, potatoes, and bread, giving us a very 
comfortable and hearty meal. We remained in this hut 
until sunset, receiving a great deal of useful advice from the 
old man, and then we left him. We used some precaution 
in travelling, sleeping in the woods ; but we kept moving 
by day as well as by night, and halting only when tired, 
and a good place offered. We were not very well off for 
food, though we brought a little from the fisherman's hut, 
and found quantities of winter- berries by the way-side. 

We entered Liverpool about eight at night, and went iia 
mediately to the rendezvous of the privateer, giving a little 
girl a shilling to be our guide. The keeper of the rendez- 
vous received us gladly, and we shipped immediately. Of 
course we were lodged and fed, in waiting for the schooner 
to come in. Each of us got four pounds bounty, and both 
parties seemed delighted with the bargain. To own the 
truth, we now began to drink, and the next day was pretty 
much a blank with us all. The second day, after breakfast. 
the landlord rushed into our room with a newspaper iri his 
hand, and broke out upon us, with a pretty string of names, 
denouncing us for having told him we were deserters, when 
we were only runaway Yankees ! The twelve pounds trou- 
bled him, and he demanded it back. We laughed at him, 
and advised him to be quiet and put us aboard the privateer. 
He then told us the guard was after us, hot-foot, and that it 
was too late. This proved to be true enough, for, in less 
than an hour an officer and a platoon of men had us in 
custody. We had some fun in hearing the officer give it to 
the landlord, who still kept talking about his twelve pounds. 
The officer told him plainly that he was rightly served, for 
attempting to smuggle off deserters, and I suppose this was 
the reason no one endeavoured to get the money away from 
us, except by words. We kept the twelve pounds, right or 
wrong. 

We were now put in a coaster, and sent to Halifax by 
water. We were in irons, but otherwise wore well enough 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 109 

treated. We were kept in the Navy-yard guard-house, at 
Halifax, several hours, and were visited by a great many 
(Officers. These gentlemen were curious to hear our story, 
and we let them have it, very frankly. They laughed, and 
said, generally, we were not to be blamed for trying to get 
off, if their own look-outs were so bad as to let us. We did 
not tell them, however, by what means we passed out of the 
prison-barracks. Among the officers who came and spoke 
to us, was an admiral. Sir Isaac Coffin. This gentleman 
was a native American, and was then in Halifax to assist 
the Nantucket men, whom he managed to get exchanged. 
His own nephew was said to be among them ; but him he 
would not serve, as he had been captured in a privateer. 
Had he been captured in a man-of-war, or a merchant-man, 
he would have done all he could for him ; but, as it was, he 
let him go to Dartmoor — at least, this was the story in the 
prison. The old gentleman spoke very mildly to us, and 
said he could not blame us for attempting to escape. I do 
not think he had ever heard of the twelve pounds ; though 
none of the navy officers were sorry that the privateer's- 
men should be punished. As for us, we considered them 
all enemies alike, on whom it was fair enough to live in a 
time of war. 

We were sent back to the island, &nd were quarantined* 
again ; though it was for twenty days, this time. When we 
got pratique, we learned that some one had told of the man- 
ner in which we got out of prison, and cross-bars had been 
placed in all the windows, making them so many " nine of 
diamonds." This was blocking the channel, and there was 
no more chance for getting off in that way. 

A grand conspiracy was now formed, which was worthy 
of the men in prison. The plan was to get possession of 
Halifax itself, and go off in triumph. We were eighteen 
hundred prisoners in all ; though not very well off for offi- 
cers. About fifty of us entered into the plan, at first ; nor 
did we let in any recruits for something like six weeks. 
A. Mr. Crownlnshield, of Salem, was the head man among 
as, he havmg been an officer in a privateer. Th-ere were a 
good many privateer officers in the prison, but they were 
berthed over-head, and were intended to be separated from 
js at night. The floor was lifted between us, however, aod 
10 



110 NED MYEllS; OR, 

we held our communications by these means. The ofRcerg 
came down at night, and lent us a hand with the work. 

The scheme was very simple, though I do not think it 
was at all difficult of execution. The black-hole cells were 
beneath the prison, and we broke through the floor, into one 
of them, from our bay. A large mess-chest concealed the 
process, in the day-time. We woi'ked in gangs of six, dig 
ging and passing up the dirt into the night-tubs. These 
tubs we were permitted to empty, every morning, in a tide's 
way, and thus we got rid of the dirt. At the end of two 
months we had dug a passage, wide enough for two abreast, 
some twenty or thirty yards, and were nearly ready to 
come up to the surface. We now began to recruit, swear- 
ing in each man. On tho whole, we had got about four 
hundred names, when the project was defeated, by that 
great enemy which destroys so many similar schemes, 
treachery. We were betrayed, as was supposed by one of 
our own number. 

Had we got out, the plan was to seize the heights of the 
island, and get possession of the guns. This effected, it 
would have been easy to subdue the guard. We then 
would have pushed for Citadel Hill, which commanded Hali- 
fax. Had we succeeded there, we should have given John 
BpU a great deal of trouble, though no one could say what 
would have been the result. Hundreds would probably 
have got off, in different craft, even had the great plan 
failed. We were not permitted to try the experiment, how- 
ever, for one day we were all turned out, and a party of 
English officers, army and navy, entered the barracks, re 
moved the mess-chest, and surveyed our mine at their 
leisure. A draft of six hundred was sent from the prison 
that day, and was shipped for Dartmoor ; and, by the end 
of the week, our whole number was reduced to some three 
or four hundred souls. One of the Julias went in this drafl, 
but all the rest of us were kept at Halifax. For some rea- 
son or other, the English seemed to keep their eyes on us. 

I never gave up the hope of escaping, and the excitement 
of the hope was beneficial to both body and mind. We 
were too well watched, however, and conversation at 
night was even forbidden. Most of the officers were gone 
and this threw me pretty much on my own resources, i 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. Ill 

have forgotten to say that Lemuel Bryant, the man who 
fell at the breech of my gun, at Little York, and whom I 
afterwards hauled into the Scourge's boat, got otf, very early 
after our arrival at Halifax. He made two that got quite 
clear, instead of the one I have already mentioned. Bry 
ant's escape was so clever, as to deserve notice. 

One day a party of some thirty soldiers was called out 
for exchange, under a capitulation. Among the names was 
that of Lemuel Bryant, but the man happened to be dead. 
Our Bryant had found this out, beforehand, and he rigged 
himself soldier-fashion, and answered to the name» It is 
probable he ascertained the fact, by means of some relation 
ship, which brought him in contact with the soldier previously 
to his death. He met with no difficulty, and I have never 
seen him since. I have heard he is still living, and that he 
receives a pension for the hurt he received at York. Well 
does he deserve it, for no man ever had a narrower chance 
for his life. 

Nothing new, worthy of notice, occurred for several 
months, until one evening in March, 1815, we heard a 
great rejoicing in Halifax ; and, presently, a turnkey ap- 
peared on the wa is, and called out that England and Ame- 
rica had made peace ! We gave three cheers, and passed 
the night happy enough. We had a bit of a row with the 
turnkeys about locking us in again, for we were fierce for 
liberty ; but we were forced to submit for another night. 



CHAPTER X. 

The following morning, eight of the names that stood 
first on the prison-roll were called off, to know if the men 
would consent to work a liberated Swedish brig to New 
York, I was one of the eight, as was Jack Mallet and 
Barnet. Wilcox, one of those who had gone with us to 
Bermuda, had died, and the rest were left on the island. I 
never fell in with Leonard Lewis, Littlefield, or any of the 
rest of those chaps, after I quitted the prison. Lewis, I 



112 Sf£D MYERS; OR, 

> 

think, could not have lived long ; and as for Littlefield, 1 
heard of him, afterwards, as belonging to the Washington 74. 

The Swede, whose name was the Venus, was lying at the 
end of Marchinton's wharf, a place that had been so familiar 
to me in boyhood. We all went on board, and I was not 
sorry to find that we were to haul into the stream immedi- 
ately. I had an extraordinary aversion to Halifax, which 
my late confinement had not diminished, and had no wish 
to see a living soul in it. Jack Mallet, however, took on 
himself the office of paying my sister a visit, and of telling 
her where I was to be found. This he did contrary to my 
wishes, and without my knowledge ; though I think he 
meant to do me a favour. The very day we hauled into the 
stream, a "boat came alongside us, and I saw, at a glance, 
that Harriet was in it. I said a few words to her, requesting 
her not to come on board, but promising to visit her that 
evening, which I did. 

I stayed several hours with my sister, whom I found living 
with her husband. She did not mention my father's name 
to me, at all ; and I learned nothing of my other friends, if 
I ever had any, or of my family. Her husband was a tailor, 
and they gave me a good outfit of clothes, and treated me 
with great kindness. It struck me that the unaccountable 
silence of my father about us children, had brought my sis- 
ter down in the world a little, but it was no affair of mine ; 
and, as for myself, I cared for no one. After passing the 
evening with the family, I went on board again, without 
turning to the right or lefl to see a single soul more. Even 
the Frasers were not visited, so strong was my dislike to 
have anything to do wnth Halifax. 

The Venus took on board several passengers, among 
whom were three or four officers of the navy. Lieutenant 
Rapp, and a midshipman Randolph were among them, and 
there were also several merchant-masters of the party. We 
sailed two days after I joined the brig, and had a ten or 
twelve days' passage. The moment the Venus was along- 
side the wharf, at New York, we all left, and found ourselves 
free men once more. I had been a prisoner nineteen months, 
and that was quite enough for me for the remainder of my 
life. 

We United States' men reported ourselves, the next day 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 113 

lo Captain Evans, the commandant of the Brooklyn Yard, 
and, after giving in our names, we v^^ere advised to go on 
board the Epervier, which was then fitting out for the Medi 
terranean, under the command of Captain Downes. To 
this we objected, however, as we wanted a cruise ashore, 
before we took to the water again. This was a lucky deci- 
sion of ours, though scarcely to be defended as to our views: 
the Epervier being lost, and all hands perishing, a few 
months later, on her return passage from the Straits. 

Captain Evans then directed us to report ourselves daily, 
which we did. But the press of business at Washington 
prevented our cases from being attended to ; and being des- 
titute of money, while wages were high, we determined, 
with Captain Evans' approbation, to make a voyage, each, 
in the merchant service, and to get our accounts settled on 
our return. Jack Mallet, Barnet and I, shipped, therefore, 
in another brig called the Venus, that was bound on a sealing 
voyage, as was thought, in some part of the world where 
seals were said to be plenty. We were ignorant of the 
work, or we might have discovered there was a deception 
intended, from the outfit of the vessel. She had no salt 
ftven, while she had plenty of cross-cut saws, iron dogs, 
chains, &c. The brig sailed, however, and stood across the 
Atlantic, as if in good earnest. When near the Cape de 
Verds, the captain called us aft, and told us he thought the 
season too far advanced for sealing, and that, if we would 
consent, he vvould run down to St. Domingo, and make an 
arrangement with some one there to cut mahogany on shares, 
with fustick and lignum-vitse. The secret was now out ; 
but what could we poor salts do ? The work we were asked 
to do turned out to be extremely laborious ; and I suppose 
we had been deceived on account of the difficulty of getting 
men, just at that time, for such a voyage. There we were, 
in the midst of the ocean, and we agreed to the proposal, 
pretty much as a matter of course. 

The brig now bore up, and stood for St. Domingo. She 
first went in to the city of St, Domingo, where the arrange- 
ments were made, and Spaniards were got to help to cut the 
wood, when we sailed for a bay, of which I have forgotten 
the name, and anchored near the shore. The trees were 
sawed down, about ten miles up a river, and floated to its 
10* 



114 NED MYERS; OR, 

bar, across which they had to be hauled by studding-sail 
halyards, through the surf; one man hauling two logs at a 
time, made into a sort of raft. Sharks abounded, and we 
had to keep a bright look-out, lest they got a leg while we 
were busy with the logs. I had a narrow escape from two 
while we lay at St. Domingo. A man fell overboard, anc 
I went after him, succeeding in catching the poor fellow. A 
boat was dropped astern to pick us up, and, as we hauled 
the man in, two large sharks came up close alongside. This 
affair had set us drinking, and I got a good deal of punch 
aboard. The idea of remaining in the brig was unpleasant 
to me, and I had thought of quitting her for some days. A 
small schooner bound to America, and short of hands, lay 
near us ; and I had told the captain I would come and join 
him that night. Jack Mallet and the rest tried tc persuade 
me not to go, but I had too much punch and grog in me to 
listen to reason. When all hands aft were asleep, therefore, 
I let myself down into the water, and swam quite a cable's- 
length to the schooner. One of the men was looking out 
for me. He heard me in the water, and stood ready to re- 
ceive me. As I drew near the schooner, this man threw me 
a rope, and helped me up the side, but, as soon as I was on 
the deck, he told me to look behind me. I did so, and there 
I saw an enormous shark swimming about, a fellow that 
was sixteen or eighteen feet long. This shark, I was told, 
had kept company with me as long as I had been in 
sight from the schooner. I cannot well describe the effect 
that was produced on me by this discovery. When I en- 
tered the water, I was under the influence of liquor, but this 
escape sobered me in a minute ; so much so, indeed, that I 
insisted on being put in a boat, and sent back to the brig, 
which was done. I was a little influenced in this, however, 
by some reluctance that was manifested to keep me on boar<i 
the schooner. I got on board the Venus without being dis- 
covered, and came to a resolution to stick by the crafl; until 
the' voyage was up. 

We filled up with mahogany, and took in a heavy deck- 
load, in the course of four months, which was a most labo- 
rious process. When ready, the brig sailed for NewTork, 
We encountered a heavy gale, about a week out, which swepl 
away our deck-load, bulwarks, &c. At this time, ♦^^he mas- 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 115 

ter, supercargo, mate, cook, and three of the crew, were 
down with the fever; leaving Mallet, Barnet and myself, to 
take care of the brig. We three brought the vessel up as 
far as Barnegat, where we procured assistance, and she 
arrived safe at the quarantine ground. 

As soon as we got pratique. Mallet, Barnet and myself, 
went up to town to look after our affairs, leaving the brig 
below. The owners gave us thirty dollars each, to begin 
upon. We ascertained that our landlord had received our 
wages from government, and held it ready for us, sailor 
fashion. I al«io sold my share in the Venus' voyage for one 
hundred and twenty dollars. This gave me, in all, about 
five hundred dollars, which money lasted me between five 
and six weel's ! How true is it, that "sailors make their 
money like horses, and spend it like asses !" I cannot say 
this prodi:?aI waste of my means afforded me any substan- 
tial gratification. I have experienced more real pleasure 
from one day passed in a way of which my conscience could 
approve, than from all the loose and thoughtless follies, in 
which I was then in the habit of indulging when ashore, of 
a whole life. The manner in which this hard-earned gold 
was thrown away, may serve to warn some brother tar of 
the dangers that beset me ; and let the reader understand the 
real wants of so large a body of his fellow-creatures. 

On turning out in the morning, I felt an approach to that 
which seamen call the " hoi-rors," and continued in this 
state, until I had swallowed several glasses of rum. I had 
no appetite for breakfast, and life was sustained principally 
by drink. Half of the time I ate no dinner, and when I did, 
it was almost drowned in grog. Occasionally I drove out 
in a coach, or a gig, and generally had something extra to 
pay for damages. One of these cruises cost me forty dol- 
lars, and I shall always think I was given a horse that sailed 
crab-fashion, on purpose to do me out of the money. At night, 
] generally weitl to the play, and felt bound to treat the land- 
lord and his family to tickets and refreshments. We always 
had a coach to go in, and it was a reasonable night that cost 
me only ten dollars. At first I was a sort of" king among 
beggars ;" but as the money went, Ned's importance went 
with it, until, one day, the virtuous landlord intimated to 
me that it would b^ well, as I happened to be sober, to over- 



IIG NEDMYERS;OR, 

haul our accounts. He then began to read from his books 
ten dollars for this, twenty dollars for that, and thirty for the 
other, until I was soon tired, and wanted to know how much 
was left. I had still fifty dollars, even according to his ac- 
count of the matter ; and as that might last a week, with 
good management, I wanted to hear no more about the items 

Air this time, 1 was separated from my old shipmates, 
being left comparatively among strangers. Jack Mallet had 
gone to join his friends in Philadelphia, and Barnet went 
south, whither I cannot say. I never fell in with either of 
them again, it being the fate of seamen to encounter the 
greatest risks and hardships in company, and then to cut 
adrift from each other, with little ceremony, never to meet 
again. I was still young, being scarcely two-and-twenty 
and might, even then, have hauled in my oars, and come to 
be an officer and a man. 

As I knew I must go to sea, as soon as the accounts were 
balanced,! began to think a little seriously of my prospects. 
Dissipation had wearied me, and I wanted to go a voyage 
of a length that would prevent my falling soon into the same 
course of folly and vice. I had often bitter thoughts as to 
my conduct, nor was I entirely free from reflection on the 
subject of my peculiar situation, I might be said to be with- 
out a friend, or relative, in the world. " When my hat was 
on, my house was thatched." Of my father, I knew no- 
thing ; I have since ascertained he must then have been 
dead. My sister was little to me, and I never expected to 
see her again. The separation from all my old lakers, too, 
gave me some trouble, for I never met with one of them 
after parting from Barnet and Mallet, with the exception of 
Tom Goldsmith and Jack Reilly. Tom and I fell in with 
each other, on my return from St. Domingo, in the streets 
of New York, and had a yarn of two hours, about old times. 
This was all I ever saw of Tom, He had suffered a good 
deal with the English, who kept him in Kingston, Upper 
Canada, until the peace, when they let him go with the rest. 
As for Reilly, we have been in harbour together, in our old 
age, and I may speak of him again. 

Under the feelings I have mentioned, as soon as the looks 
of my landlord let me know that there were no more shot in 
the locker, I shipped in a South Sea whaler, named the Ed- 



A LIFE B E F O 11 i; THE MAST. 117 

ward, that was expected to be absent between two and three 
years. She was a small vessel, and carried only three 
boats. I got a pretty good outfit from my landlord, though 
most of the articles were second-hand. We parted good 
friends, however, and I came back to him, and played the 
same silly game more than once. He was not a bad land- 
lord, as landlords then went, and 1 make no doubt he took 
better care of my money than I should have done myself. 
On the whole, this class of men are not as bad as they seem, 
though there are precious rascals among them. The re 
spectable sailor landlord is quite as good, in his way, as 
one could expect, all things considered. 

The voyage I made in the Edward was one of very little 
mterest, the ship being exceedingly successful. The usage 
and living were good, and the whaling must have been good 
too, or we never should have been back again, as soon as 
we were. We went round the Horn, and took our first 
whale between the coast of South America and that of New 
Holland. I must have been present at the striking of thirty 
fish, but never met with any accident. I pulled a mid-ship 
oar, being a new hand at the business, and had little else to 
do, but keep clear of the line, and look out for my paddle. 
The voyage is now so common, and the mode of taking 
whales is so well known, that I shall say little about either. 
We went off the coast of Japan, as it is called, though a 
long bit from the land, and we made New Holland, though 
without touching. The return passage was by the Cape of 
Good Hope and St. Helena. We let go our anchor but 
once the whole voyage, and that was at Puna, at the mouth 
of the Guayaquil river, on the coast of Chili. We lay there 
ft week, but, with this exception, the Edward was actually 
under her canvass the whole voyage, or eighteen months. 
We did intend to anchor at St. Helena, but were forbidden 
on account of Bonaparte, who was then a prisoner on the 
Island. As we stood in, we were met by a man-of-war 
brig, that kept close to us until we had sunk the heights, on 
our passage off again. We were not permitted even to send 
a boat in, for fresh grub. 

I sold my voyage in the Edward for two hundred and 
fifty dollars, and went back to my landlord, in Water street. 
Of course, everybody was glad to see me, a sailor's im 



118 NED MYERS; OR, 

portance in such places being estimated by the length of his 
voyage. In Wall street they used to call a man "a hun- 
dred thousand dollar man," and in Water, " an eighteen 
months, or a two years' voyage man." As none but 
whalers, Indiamen, and Statesmen could hold out so long, 
we were all A. No. 1, for a fortnight or three weeks. The 
man-of-war's-man is generally most esteemed, his cruise 
lasting three years ; the lucky whaler comes next, and the 
Canton-man third. 1'he Edward had been a lucky ship, 
and, insomuch, I had been a lucky fellow. I behaved far 
better this time, however, than I had done on my returr 
from St. Domingo. I kept sober more, did not spend my 
money as foolishly or as fast, and did not wait to be kicked 
out of doors, before 1 thought of getting some more. When 
I shipped anew, I actually left a hundred dollars behind me 
in my landlord's hands; a very extraordinary thing for 
Jack, and what is equally worthy of notice, I got it all 
again, on my next return from sea. 

IVly steadiness was owing, in a great measure, to the fol- 
lowing circumstances. I fell in with two old acquaint- 
ances, who had been in prison with me, of the names of 
Tibbets and Wilson. This Tibbets was not the man who 
had been sent to Bermuda with me, but another of the same 
name. These men had belonged to the Gov. Tompkins pri- 
vateer, and had received a considerable sum in prize-money, 
on returning home. They had used their money discreetly, 
having purchased an English prize-brig, at a low price, and 
fitted her out. On board the Tompkins, both had been 
foremost hands, and in prison they had messed in our bay, 
so that we had been hail-fellows-well-met, on Melville 
Island. After getting this brig ready, they had been to the 
West Indies in her, and were now about to sail for Ireland. 
They wished me to go with them, and gave me so much 
good advice, on the subject of taking care of my money, 
that it produced the effect I have just mentioned. 

The name of the prize-brig was the Susan, though I for- 
get from what small eastern pOrt she hailed. She was of 
about two hundred tons burthen, but must have been old 
and rotten. Tibbets was master, and Wilson was chief- 
mate. I shipped as a sort of second-mate, keeping a 
watch, though I lived forward at my own request. We 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 119 

.iiust have sailed about January, 1818, bound to Belfast. 
There were fourteen of us, altogether, on board, most of 
us down-easfers. Our run off the coast was with a strong 
north-west gale, which compelled us to heave-to, the sea 
being too high for scudding. Finding that the vessel la- 
boured very much, however, and leaked badly, we kept off 
again, and scudded for the rest of the blow. On the whole, 
we got out of this difficulty pretty well. We got but two 
observations the whole passage, but in the afternoon of the 
twenty-third day out, we made the coast of Ireland, close 
aboard, in thick weather ; the wind directly on shore, blow- 
ing a gale. The brig was under close-reefed topsails, run- 
ning free, at the time, and we found it necessary to haul up. 
We now discovered the defects of old canvass and old rigging, 
splitting the fore-topsail, foresail, and fore-topmast-staysail, 
besides carrying away sheets, &c. We succeeded in haul- 
ing up the foresail, however, and I went upon the yard and 
mended it, after a fashion. It was now nearly night, and 
it blew in a way " to need two men to hold one man's hair 
on his head." I cannot say I thought much of our situa- 
tion, my principal concern being to get below, with some 
Warm, dry clothes on. We saw nothing of the land after 
the first half-hour, but at midnight we wore ship, and came 
up on the larboard tack. The brig had hardly got round 
before the fore-tack went, and the foresail split into ribands. 
We let the sail blow from the yard. By this time, things 
began to look very serious, though, for some reason, I felt 
no great alarm. The case was different with Tibbets and 
Wilson, who were uneasy about Cape Clear. I had had a 
bit of a spat with them about waring, believing, myself, 
that we should have gone clear of the Cape, on the star- 
board tack. This prevented them saying much to me, and 
we had little communication with each other that night. To 
own the truth, I was sorry I had shipped in such a craft. 
He/ owners were too poor to give a sea-going vessel a pro- 
per outfit, and they were too near my own level to create 
respect. 

The fore-topsail had been mended as well .as the foresail, 
and was set anew. The sheets went, however, about two 
in the morning, and the sail flew from the reef-band like a 
bit of muslin torn by a shop-boy. The brig now had no- 



I.i0 NEDMYEKS;OR, 

»hing set but a close-reefed main-topsail, and this I expected, 
every minute, would follow the other canvass. It rained^ 
blew tremendously, and the sea was making constant 
breaches over us. Most of the men were fagged out, some 
going below, while others, who remained on deck, did, or 
could do, nothing. At the same time, it was so dark that 
we could not see the length of the vessel. 

I now went aft to speak to Tibbets, telling him I thought 
it was all over with us. He had still some hope, as the bay 
was deep, and he thought light might return before we got 
to the bottom of it. I was of a different opinion, believing 
the brig then to be within the influence of the ground-swell, 
though not absolutely within the breakers. All this time 
the people were quiet, and there was no drinking. Indeed, 
I hardly saw any one moving about. It was an hour after 
the conversation with Tibbets, that I was standing, holding 
on by the weather-main-clew-garnet, when I got a glimpse 
of breakers directly under our lee. I sung out, " there's 
breakers, and everybody must shift for himself." At the 
next instant, the brig rose on a sea, settled in the trough, 
and struck. The blow threw me off my feet, though I held 
on to the clew-garnet. Then I heard the crash of the fore- 
mast as it went down to leeward. The brig rolled over on 
Ker beam-ends, but righted at the next sea, drove in some 
distance, and diT'wn she came again, with a force that threat- 
ened to break her up. I bethought me of the main-mast, 
and managed to get forward as far as the bitts, in order to 
be out of its way. It was well I did, as I felt a movement 
as if her upper works were parting from the bottom. I was 
near no one, and the last person I saw, or spoke to on board, 
was Tibbets, who was then standing in the companion-way. 
This was an hour before the b3.ig struck. 

There might have been an interval of half a minute be- 
tween the time I reached the windlass, and that in which 
I saw a tremendous white foaming sea rolling down upon 
the vessel. At this ominous sight, I instinctively seized the 
bitts for protection. I can remember the rushing of the 
water down upon me, and have some faint impressions ot 
passing through a mass of rigging, but this is all. When 
I came to my senses, it was in an Irish mud-cabin, with an 
old woman and her daughter taking care of me. My head 



A. LIFE BETORE THE MAST. 121 

was bandaged, and most of the hair had been cut off ill front 
I was stiff and sore all over me. Fortunately, none of my 
bones were broken. 

The account given me of what had passed, was this. I 
was found by the old man, who lived in the hut, a fisherman 
and the husband of my nurse, with some other persons, lying 
on my face, between two shelves of rock. There was no- 
thing very near me, not even a bit of wood, or a rope. Two 
iads that belonged to the brig were found not far from me, 
both alive, though both badly hurt, one of them having had 
his thigh broken. Of the rest of the fourteen souls on board 
the Susan, there were no traces. I never heard that even 
their bodies were found. Tibbets and Wilson had gone with 
their old prize, and anything but a prize did she prove to me. 
I lost a good outfit, and, after belonging to her about three 
weeks, here was I left naked on the shores of Ireland. I 
am sorry to say, my feelings were those of repining, rather 
than of g'.atitude. Of religion I had hardly a notion, and I 
am afraid that all which had been driven into me in child- 
hood, was already lost. In this state of mind, I naturally 
felt more of the hardships I had endured, than of the mercy 
that had been shown me. I look back with shame at the 
hardness of heart which rendered me insensible to the many 
mercies I had received, in escaping so often from the perils 
of my calling. 

It was three days after the wreck, before I left my bed. 
Nothing could have been kinder than the treatment I received 
from those poor Irish people. Certainly no reward was be- 
fore them, but that which Heaven gives the merciful ; and 
yet I could not have been more cared for, had I been their 
own son. They fed me, nursed me, and warmed me, with- 
out receiving any other return from me than my thanks. I 
staid with them three weeks, doing nothing on account of 
the bruises I had received. The Susan's had been a tho- 
rough wreck. Not enough of her could be found, of which 
to build a launch. Her cargo was as effectually destroyed 
as her hull, and, to say the truth, it took but little to break 
her up. As for the two lads, I could not get as far as the 
cabin in which they had been put. It was two or three 
miles along the coast, and, having no shoes, I could not 
walk that distance over the sharp stones. Several messages 
11 



122 NED MYERS; OR, 

passed between us, but I never saw a single soul that be- 
longed to the brig, after the last look I had of Tibbets in the 
companion-way. 

A coaster passing near the cabin, and it falling calm, the 
fisherman went off to her, told my story, and got a passage 
for me to Liverpool. I now took my leave of these honest 
people, giving them all I had — my sincere thanks — and went 
on board the sloop. Here I was well treated, nor did any 
one expect me to work. "We reached Liverpool the second 
day, and I went and hunted up Molly Hutson, the landlady 
with whom the crew of the Sterling had lodged, when Cap- 
tain B-^ had her. The old woman helped me to some 

clothes, received me well, and seemed sorry for my misfor- 
tunes. As it would not do to remain idle, however, I shipped 
on board the Robert Burns, and sailed for New York within 
the week. I got no wages, but met with excellent treatment, 
and had a very short winter passage. In less than three 
months after I left him, I was back again with my old land- 
lord, who gave me my hundred dollars without any difficult5^ 
I had sailed with him in the Sterling, and he always seemed 
to think of me a little differently from what landlords gene- 
rally think of Jack. 

A good deal was said among my associates, now, about 
the advantages of making a voyage to the coast of Ireland 
for the purpose of smuggling tobacco, and I determined to 
try my hand at one. Of the morality of smuggling I have 
nothing to say. I would not make such a voyage now, if 
I know myself; but poor sailors are not taught to make just 
distinctions in such things, and the merchants must take 
their share of the shame. I fear there are few merchants, 
and fewer seamen, man-of-war officers excepted, who will 
not smuggle.* 

I laid out most of my hundred dollars, in getting a new 
outfit, and then shipped in a small pilot-boat-built schooner. 



* Ned might have added " few duchesses." The ambassadors' bags 
in Europe, might tell many a tale of foulards, &c., sent from one court 
to another. The writer beUeves that the higher class of American 
gentlemen and ladies smuggle less than those of any other country. 
ft should be remembered, too, that no seaman goes in a smuggler, th». 
13 n )t sent by traders ashore Editor. 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 123 

called the M'Donough, bound to Ireland, to supply such 
holiest fellows as my old fisherman with good tobacco, cheap. 
Our caTgo was in small bales, being the raw material, in- 
tended to be passed by hand. We had seventeen hands 
before the mast, but carried no armament, pistols, &c., ex- 
cepted. The schooner sailed like a witch, carrying only 
two gafT-topsails. We made the land in fourteen days after 
we left the Hook, our port being Tory Island, off the north- 
west coast of Ireland. We arrived in the day-time, and 
showed a signal, which was answered in the course of the 
day, by a smoke on some rocks. A large boat then came 
off to us, and we filled her with tobacco the same evening. 
In the course of the night, we had despatched four or five 
more boats, loaded with the same cargo ; but, as day ap- 
proached, we hauled our wind, and stood off the land. Next 
night we went in, again, and met more boats, and the suc- 
ceeding morning we hauled off, as before. When we saw 
a boat, we hailed and asked " if they were outward bound." 
If the answer was satisfactory, we brailed the foresail and 
permitted the boat to come alongside. In this manner we 
continued shoving cargo ashore, for quite a week, sometimes 
falling in with only one boat of a night, and, at others, with 
three or four ; just as it might happen. We had got about 
two-thirds of the tobacco out, and a boat had just left us, on 
the morning of the sixth or seventh day, when we saw a 
man-of-war brig coming round Tory Island, in chase. At 
this sight, we hauled up close on a wind, it blowing very 
fresh. As the English never employed any but the fastest 
cruisers for this station, we had a scratching time of it. 
The brig sailed very fast, and out-carried us ,* but our little 
schooner held on well. For two days and one night we had 
it, tack and tack, with her. The brig certainly gained on 
us, our craft carrying a. balanced reefed-mainsail, bonnet off 
the foresail and one reef in, and bonnet off the jib. The 
flying-jib was inboard. At sunset, on the second night, the 
brig was so near us, we could see her people, and it was 
blowing fresher than ever- This was just her play, while 
ours was in more moderate weather. Our skipper got un- 
easy, now, and determined to try a trick. It set in dark 
and rainy ; and, as soon as we lost sight of the brig, we 
tacked, stood on a short distance, lowered everything, and 



124 NED MYERS; OR, 

extinguished all our lights. We lay in this situation three 
hours, when we stuck the craft down again for Tory Island 
as straight as we could go. I never knew what became of 
the brig, which may be chasing us yet, for aught I know 
for I saw no more of her. Next day we had the signal fly- 
ing again, and the smoke came up from the same rock, as 
before. It look us three days longer to get all the tobacco 
ashore, in consequence of some trouble on the island ; but 
it all went in the end, and went clear, as I was told, one or 
two boat-loads excepted. The cargo was no sooner out, 
than we made sail for New York, where we arrived in an- 
other short passage. We were absent but little more than 
two months, and my wages and presents came to near one 
hundred dollars. I never tried the tobacco trade ao;ain. 



CHAPTER XI. 

I NOW stayed ashore two months. I had determined to 
study navigation, and to try to get off the forecastle, in 
which wise course I was encouraged by several discreet 
friends. I had fallen in with a young woman of respectable 
character and agreeable person, and, to own the truth, was 
completely in irons with her. I believe a mother is a good 
deal more on the look-out than a father, in such matters ; 
for I was overhauled by the old woman, and questioned as 
to my intentions about Sarah, whereas the old man wa-i 
somewhat more moderate. I confessed my wish to marry 
her daughter; but the old woman thought I was too wild, 
which was not Sarah's opinion, I believe. Had we been 
left to ourselves, we should have got married ; though I was 
really desirous of going out once as an officer, before I took 
so impoi'tant a step. I have sometimes suspected that 
Sarah's parents had a hand in getting me shipped, again, as 
they were intimate with the captain who now proposed to 
take me with him as his second-mate. I consented to go. 
with some reluctance ; but, on the whole, thought it was the 
best thing I could do. My reluctance proceeded from ^j 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 125 

Jesire to remain with Sarah, when the time came ; though 
the herth was exactly the thing I wanted, whenever I rea- 
soned coolly on the subject. 

I shipped, accordingly, in a vessel of the Costers', called 
the William and Jane, bound to Holland and Canton, as her 
second-mate. My leave-taking with Sarah was very tender ; 
and I believe we both felt much grieved at the necessity of 
parting. Nothing occurred on the passage out worth men- 
tioning. I got along with my duty well enough, for I had 
been broken-in on board the Sterling, and one or two other 
vessels. We went to the Texel, but found some difficulty in 
procuring dollars, which caused us to return to New York, 
after getting only twenty thousand. We had no other return 
cargo, with the exception of a little gin. We were absent 
five months ; and I found Sarah as pretty, and as true, as 
ever. I did not quit the vessel, however ; but, finding my 
knowledge of the lunars too limited, I was obliged to go 
backward a little — becoming third-mate. We were a month 
in New York, and it was pretty hard work to keep from eloping 
with Sarah ; but I clawed off the breakers as well as I could. 
I gave her a silver thimble, and told her to take it to a smith, 
and get our joint names cut on it, which she did. The con- 
sequences of this act will be seen in the end. 

We had a little breeze on board the ship before we could 
get off; the people refusing to sail with a new fii'st-mate 
that had joined her. It ended by getting another mate, when 
we went to sea. I believe that no other vessel ever went 
out with such articles as our crew insisted on. The men 
stipulated for three quarts of water a day, and the forenoon's 
watch below. All this was put in black and white, and it 
gave us some trouble before we got to our destination. 

Our passage out was a very long one, lasting two hundred 
and ten days. When we got into the trades, we stripped 
one mast after the other, to a girt-line, overhauling every 
thing, and actually getting new gangs of rigging up over 
the lower-mast-heads. We were a long time about it, but 
lost little or nothing in distance, as the ship was going before 
the wind the whole time, with everything packed on the 
masts that were rigged. Before overhauling the rigging, 
we fell in with an English ship, called the General Blucher, 
and kept company with her for quite a fortnight. While 
11* 



126 NED MYERS; OR, 

.he two ships were together, we were chased by a sfrango 
brig, that kept in sight three or four days, evidently watch- 
ing us, and both vessels suspected him of being a pirate. 
As we had six guns, and thirty-one souls, and the Blucher 
was, at least, as strong, the two captains thought, by stand- 
ing by each other, they might beat the fellow otf, should he 
attack us. The brig frequently came near enough to get 
a good look at us, and then dropped astern. He continued 
this game several da3's, until he suddenly hauled his wind, 
and left us. Our ship would have been a famous prize; 
having, it vvas said, no less than two hundred and fift^y 
thousand Spanish dollars on board. 

We parted com.pany with the Blucher, in a heavy gale ; 
our ship bearing up for Rio. After getting rid of some of 
our ballast, however, and changing the cargo of pig-lead, 
our vessel was easier, and did not go in. Nothing further 
occurred, worth mentioning, until we got off Van Diemen's 
Land. Two days after seeing the land, a boy fell from the 
fore-top-gallantyard, while reevingthestudding-sailhalyards, 
I had just turned in, after eating my dinner, having the 
watch below, when I heard the cry of " a man overboard !" 
Running on deck, as I was, I jumped into a quarter-boat, 
followed by four men, and we were immediately lowered 
ilown. The ship was rounded-to, and I heard the poor fel- 
low calling out to me by name, to save him. I saw him, 
astern, very plainly, while on the ship's quarter ; but lost 
sight of him, as soon as the boat was in the water. The 
skylight-hood had been thrown overboard, and was floating 
in the ship's wake. We steered for that ; but could neither 
see nor hear anything more of the poor fellow. We got his 
hat, and we picked up the hood of the skylight, but could 
not find the boy. He had, unquestionably, gone down 
before we reached the spot where he had been floating, as 
his hat must have pointed out the place. We got the hat 
first ; and then, seeing nothing of the lad, we pulled back to 
take in the hood ; which was quite large. While employed 
in taking it in, a squall passed over the boat ; which nearly 
-blew it away from us. Being very busy in securing the 
hood, no one had leisure to look about ; but the duty was no 
sooner done, than one of the men called out, that he could 
not see the ship ! Sure enough, the William and Jane had 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 127 

disappeared ! and there we were, left in llie middle of the 
ocean, in a six-oared pinnace, without a morsel of food, and I 
myself, without hat, shoes, jacket or trowsers. In a word, 
I had nothing on me but my drawers and a flannel shirt. 
Fortunately, the captain kept a breaker of fresh water in each 
boat, and we had a small supply of this great requisite ; — 
enough, perhaps, to last five men two or three days. 

All our boats had sails ; but those of the pinnace had been 
spread on the quarter-deck, to dry ; and we had nothing but 
the ash to depend on. Kt first, we pulled to leeward ; but 
the weather was so thick, we could not see a cable's-length ; 
and our search for the vessel, in that direction, proved use- 
less. At the end of an hour or two, we ceased rowing, and 
held a consultation. I proposed to pull in the direction of 
the land ; which was pulling to windward. If the ship should 
search for us, it would certainly be in that quarter ; and if 
we should miss her, altogether, our only chance was in 
reaching the shore. There, we might find something to 
eat ; of which there was little hope, out on the ocean. The 
men did not relish the idea of quitting the spot ; but, after 
some talk, they came into my plan. 

It remained thick weather all that afternoon, night, and 
succeeding day, until about noon. We were without a com- 
pass, and steered by the direction of the wind and sea. Oc- 
casionally it lightened up a little, so as to show us a star or 
two, or during the day to permit us to see a few miles around 
the boat ; but we got no glimpse of the ship. It blew so 
heavily that we made no great progress, in my judgment 
doing very little more than keeping the boat head to sea. 
Could we have pulled four oars, this might not have been 
the case, but we took it watch and watch, two men pulling, 
while two tried to get a little rest, under the shelter of the 
hood» I steered as long as I could, but was compelled to 
row part of the time to keep myself warm. In this manner 
were passed about six-and-twenty of the most unpleasant 
hours of my life, when some of us thought they heard the 
report of a distant gun. I did not believe it ; but, after lis- 
tening attentively some ten or fifteen minutes, another report 
was heard, beyond all dispute, dead to leeward of us ! 

This signal produced a wonderful effect on us all. The 
four oars were manned, and away we went before the wind 



128 NED MYERS;OR, 

and sea, as fast as we could pull, I steering for the jeports 
as they came heavily up to windward at intervals of about 
a quarter of an hour. Three or four of these guns were 
heard, each report sounding nearer than the other, to our 
great joy, until I got a glimpse of the ship, about two miles 
distant from us. She was on the starboard tack, close haul- 
ed, a proof she was in search of us, with top-gallant-sails 
set over single-reefed topsails. She was drawing ahead of 
us fast, however, and had we not seen her as we did, we 
should have crossed her wake, and been lost without a hope, 
by running to leeward. We altered our course the instant 
she was seen ; but what could a boat do in such a sea, pull- 
ing after a fast ship under such canvass ? Perhaps we felt 
more keen anxiety, after we saw the ship, than we did be- 
fore, since we beheld all the risk we ran. Never shall I for- 
get the sensations with which I saw her start her main-tack 
and haul up the sail ! The foresail and top-gallant-sail foU 
lowed, and then the main-yard came round, and laid the 
topsail aback ! Everything seemed to fly on board her, and 
we knew we were safe. In a few minutes we were alongside. 
The boat was at the davits, the helm was up, and the old 
barky squared away for China. 

We in the boat were all pretty well fagged out with hun- 
ger, toil, and exposure. I was the worst off, having so lit- 
tle clothing in cool weather, and I think another day would 
have destroyed us all, unless we had taken refuge in the 
well-known dreadful alternative of seamen. The captain 
was delighted to see us, as indeed were all hands. They 
had determined to tui'n to windward, on short tacks, until 
they made the land, the best thing that could have been 
done, and the course that actually saved us. 

When we got into the latitude of Port Jackson, the crew 
was put on two quarts of water a man, three quarts having 
been stipulated for in the articles. This produced a mutiny, 
the men refusing duty. This was awkward enough, in that 
distant sea. The captain took advantage of the men's go- 
ing below, however, to secure the scuttle and keep them 
there. He then mustered us, who lived aft, six men and 
three boys, and laid the question before us, whether we wovld 
take the ship into Canton, or go into Port Jackson, and get 
some water. He admitted we were about seventy-five days 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 129 

run from Canton, but he himself leaned to the plan of con- 
tinuing on our course. We saw all the difiiculties before 
us, and told him of them. 

There were twenty men below, and to carry them eight 
or ten thousand mites in that situation, would have been 
troublesome, to say the least, and might have caused the 
death of some among them. We were armed, and had no 
apprehensions of the people, but we did not like to work a 
ship of five hundred tons v/ith so kw hands, one-third of 
whom were boys, so great a distance. The crew, more- 
over, had a good deal of right on their side, the articles stip- 
ulating that they should have the water, and this water was 
to be had a short distance to windward. 

The captain yielded to our reasoning, and we beat up to 
Port Jackson, where we arrived in three or four days. The 
people were then sent to prison, as mutineers, and we wa- 
tered the ship. We were in port a fortnight, thus occu- 
pied. All this time the men were in gaol. No men were 
to be had, and then arose the question about trusting the old 
crew. There was no choice, and, the ship being ready to 
sail, we received the people on board again, and turned 
them all to duty. We had no further trouble with them, 
however, the fellows behaving perfectly well, as men com- 
monly will, who have been once put down. No mutiny is 
dangerous when the officers are apprized of its existence, 
and are fairly ready to meet it. The king's name is a 
tower of strength. 

We arrived at Canton in due time, and found our cargo 
ready for us. We took it in, and sailed again, for the 
Texel, in three weeks. Our passage to Europe was two 
hundred and eleven days, but we met with no accident. At 
the Texel I found two letters from New York, one being 
from Sarah, and the other from a female friend. Sarah 
was married to the very silversmith who had engraven our 
names on the thimble ! This man saw her for the first 
time, when she carried that miserable thimble to him, fell 
m love with her, and, being in good circumstances, her 
friends prevailed on her to have him. Her letter to me ad- 
mitted her error, and confessed her unhappiness; but there 
was no remedy. I did not like the idea of returning to New 
Vork, under the" circumstances, and resolved to quit the 



1 30 N E D M Y Ji il S ; O il , 

ship. I got my discharge, therefore, from the Wihiarr and 
June, and left her, never seeing tiie vessel allervvards. 

There was a small Baltimore ship, called the Wabash, at 
the Texel, getting ready for Canton, and I entered on board 
her, as a foremast Jack, again. My plan was to quit her in 
China, and to remain beyond the Capes for ever. The dis- 
appointment in my matrimonial plans had soured me, and I 
wanted to get as far from America as I could. This was 
the turning point of my life, and was to settle my position 
in my calling. I was now twenty-seven, and when a man 
gets stern-way on him, at that age, he must sail a good 
craft ever to work his way into his proper berth again. 

The Wabash had a good passage out, without any un- 
usual occurrence. On her arrival at Canton, I told the 
captain my views, and he allowed me to go. I was now 
adrift in the Imperial Empire, with a couple of hundred 
dollars in my pocket, and a chest full of good clothes. So 
far all was well, and I began to look about me for a berth. 
We had found an English country ship lying at Whampao, 
smuggling opium, and I got on board of her, as third-mate, a 
few days after I quitted the Wabash. This was the first 
and only time I ever sailed under the English flag, for I do 
not call my other passages in English vessels, sail'mgunder 
the flag, though it was waving over my head. My new 
ship was the Hope, of Calcutta, commanded by Captain 
Kid, or Kyd, I forget which. The vessel was built of teak, 
and had been a frigate in the Portuguese service. She was 
so old no one knew exactly when she was built, but sailed 
like a witch. Her ci*ew consisted principally of Lascars, 
with a kw Europeans and negroes, as is usual in those 
craft. My wages did not amount to much in dollars, but 
everything was so cheap, they counted up in the long run. 
I had perquisites, too, which amounted to something hand- 
some. They kept a very good table. 

The Hope had a good deal of opium, when I joined her, 
and it was all to be smuggled before we sailed. As this 
trade has made a great deal of noise, latterly, I will relate 
the manner in which we disposed of the drug. Of the mo- 
rality of this species of commerce, J have no more to say in 
its defence, than I had of the tobacco voyage, unless it be 
ID aver that were I compelled, now, to embark in one of the 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 131 

.WO, rt should be to give the countrymen of my honest fish- 
orman cheap tobacco, in preference to making the Chinese 
drunk on opium. 

Our opium was packed in wooden boxes of forty cyhn- 
ders, weighing about ten pounds each cylinder. Of course 
each box weighed about four hundred pounds. The main 
cargo was cotton, and salt-petre, and ebony ; but there were 
four hundred boxes of this opium. 

The sales of the article were made by the captain, up at 
the factory. They seldom exceeded six or eight boxes at a 
time, and were oftener two or three. The purchaser then 
brought, or sent, an order on board the Ship, for the delivery 
of the opium. He also provided bags. The custom-house 
officers did not remain in the ship, as in other countries, but 
were on board a large armed boat, hanging astern. These 
crafts are called Hoppoo boats. This arrangement left us 
tolerably free to do as we pleased, on board. If an officer 
happened to come on board, however, we had early notice 
of it, of course. As third-mate, it was my duty to see the 
boxes taken out of the hold, and the opium delivered. The 
box was opened, and the cylinders counted off, and stowed 
in the bags, which were of sizes convenient to handle. All 
this was done on the gun-deck, the purchaser receiving 
possession of his opium, on board us. It was his loss, if 
anything failed afterwards. 

As soon as the buyer had his opium in the bags, by 
placed the latter near two or three open ports, amidships, 
and hung out a signal to the shore. This signal was soon 
answered, and then it was look out for the smuggling boats ! 
These smuggling boats are long, swift, craft, that have 
double-banked paddles, frequently to the number of sixty 
men. They are armed, and are swift as arrows. When 
all is ready, they appear suddenly on the water, and dash 
alongside of the vessel for which ^fiey are bound, and find 
the labourers of the purchaser standing at the ports, with 
the bags of cylinders ready. These bags are thrown into 
the boat, the purchaser and his men tumble after them, and 
away she paddles, like a racer. The whole operation oc- 
cupies but a minute or two. 

As soon as the Hoppoo boat sees what is going on, it be- 
gins to blow conches. This gives the alnrm, and then follows 



132 NED MYERS; OR, 

a chase from an armed custom-house boat, of which .here 
are many constantly plying about. It always appeared to 
me that the custom-house people were either afraid of the 
smugglers, or that they were paid for not doing their duty. 
I never saw any fight, or seizure, though I am told such 
sometimes happen. I suppose it is in China, as it is in 
other parts of the world ; that men occasionally do their 
whole duty, but that they oftener do not. If the connivance 
of custom-house officers will justify smuggling in China, it 
will justify smuggling in London, and possibly in- New 
York. 

We not only smuggled cargo out, but we smuggled cargo 
in. The favourite prohibited article was a species of metal, 
that came in plates, like tin, or copper, of which we took in 
large quantities. It was brought to us by the smuggling- 
boats, and thrown on board, very much as the opium was 
taken out, and we stowed it away in the hold. All this was 
done in the day-time, but I never heard of any one's follow- 
ing the article into the ship. Once there, it appeared to be 
considered safe. Then we got sycee silver, which was pro- 
hibited for exportation. All came on board in the same 
manner. For every box of opium sold, the mate got a china 
dollar as a perquisite. Of course my share on four hundred 
boxes came to one hundred and thirty-three of these dollars, 
or about one hundred and sixteen of our own. I am ashamed 
to say there was a great deal of cheating all round, each 
party evidently regarding the other as rogues, and, instead 
of" doing as they would be done by," doing as they thought 
they were done by. 

The Hope sailed as soon as the opium was sold, about a 
month, and had a quick passage to Calcutta. I now began 
to pick up a little Bengalee, and, before I left the trade, could 
work a ship very well in the language. The Lascars were 
more like monkeys than men aloft, though they wanted 
strength. A topsail, that six of our common men would 
furl, would employ twenty of them. This was partly from 
habit, perhaps, though they actually want physical force. 
They eat little besides rice, and are small in frame. We 
had a curious mode of punishing them, when slack, aloft. 
Our standing rigging was of grass, and wiry enough to cut 
even hands that were used to it. The ratlines were not 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 133 

seized to the forward and after shrouds, by means of eyes, 
as is done in our vessels, but were made fast by a round 
turn, and stopping back the ends. We used to take down all 
the ratlines, and make the darkies go up without them. In 
doing this, they took the rigging between the great and se- 
cond toe, and walked up, instead of shinning it, like Chris- 
tians. This soon gave them sore toes, and they would beg 
hard to have the ratlines replaced. On the whole, they were 
easily managed, and were respectful and obedient. We had 
near a hundred of these fellows in the Hope, and kept them 
at work by means of a boatswain and four mates, all coun- 
trymen of their own. In addition, we had about thirty more 
souls, including the Europeans — Christians, as we were 
called 1 

At Calcutta we loaded with cotton, and returned to Can- 
ton, having another short passage. We had no opium in 
the ship, this time, it being out of season ; but we smuggled 
cargo in, as before. We lay at Whampao a few weeks, and 
returned to Calcutta. By this time the Hope was dying of 
old age, and Captain Kyd began to think, if he did not bury 
her, she might bury him. Her beams actually dropped, as 
we removed the cotton at Canton, though she still remained 
tight. But it would have been dangerous to encounter heavy 
weather in her. 

A new ship, called the Hopping Castle, had been built by 
Captain Kyd's father-in-law, expressly for him. She was 
a s'.out large vessel, and promised to sail well. The officers 
wore »l'i transferred to her ; but most of the old Lascars 
refused to ship, on account of a quarrel with the boatswain. 
This compelled us to ship a new set of these men, most of 
whom were strangers to us. 

By a law of Calcutta, if anything happens to a vessel 
before she gets to sea, the people retain the two months' 
advance it is customary to give them. This rule brought 
us into difficulty. The Hopping Castle cleared for Bombay, 
with a light cargo. We had dropped down the river, dis- 
charged the pilot, and made sail on our course, when a fire 
suddenly broke up out of the fore-hatch. A quantity of 
grass junk, and two or three cables of the same material, 
were in that part of the ship, and they all burnt like tinder. 
f went with the other officers and threw overboard the pow- 
12 



134 NED MYERS; OR, 

der, but it was useless to attempt extinguishing the flar les, 
Luckily, there were two pilot brigs still near us, and they 
came alongside and received all hands. The Hopping Cas- 
tle burnt to the water's edge, and we saw her wreck go 
down. This was a short career for so fine a ship, and it 
gave us all great pain; all but the rascals of Lascars. I 
lost everything I had in the world in her, but a few clothes 
I saved in a small trunk. I had little or no money, Calcutta 
being no place for economy. In a country in which it is a 
distinction to be a white man, and called a Christian, one 
must maintain his dignity by a little extravagance. 

Captain Kyd felt satisfied that the Lascars had set his 
ship on fire, and he had us all landed on Tiger Island. 
Here the serang, or boatswain, took the matter in hand, and 
attempted to find out the facts. I was present at the pro- 
ceeding, and witnessed it all. It was so remarkable as to 
deserve bring mentioned. The men were drawn up in rings, 
of twenty or thirty each, and the boatswain stood in the 
centre. He then put a little white powder into each man's 
hand, and ordered him to spit in it. The idea was that the 
innocent men would spit without any difficulty, while the 
mouths of the guilty would become too dry and husky to 
allow them to comply. At any rate, the serang picked out 
ten men as guilty, and they were sent to Calcutta to be tried. 
I was told, afterwards, that all these ten men admitted their 
guilt, criminated two more, and that the whole twelve were 
subsequently hanged in chains, near Castle William. Of 
the legal trial and execution I know nothing, unless by re- 
port ; but the trial by spittle, I saw with my own eyes ; and 
it was evident the Lascars looked upon it as a very serious 
matter. I never saw criminals in court betray more uneasi- 
ness, than these fellows, while the serang was busy with 
them. 

I was now out of employment. Captain Kyd wished me 
to go on an indigo plantation, offering me high wages. I 
never drank at sea, and had behaved in a way to gain his 
confidence, I believe, so that he urged me a good deal to 
accept his offers. I would not consent, however, being 
afraid of death. There was a Philadelphia ship, called the 
Benjamin Rush, at Calcutta, and I determined to join her. 
By this time, I felt less on the subject of my disappointment, 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 135 

and had a desire to see home, again. I shipped, accordingly, 
in the vessel mentioned, as a foremast hand. We sailed 
50on after, and had a pleubant passage to the Capes of the 
Delavvare, which I now entered, again, for the first time 
I'-dce I had done so on my return from my original voyage 
r the Sterling. 

As soon as paid off, I proceeded to New York. I was 
short of cash ; and, my old landlord being dead, I had to 
look about me for a new ship. This time, I went in a brig, 
called the Boxer, a clipper, belonging to John Jacob Astor, 
bound to Canton. This proved to be a pleasant and suc- 
cessful voyage, so far as the vessel was concerned, at least; 
the brig being back at New York, again, eight months after 
ve sailed. I went in her before the mast. 

My money was soon gone ; and I was obliged to ship 
again. I now went as second-mate, in the Trio ; an old 
English prize-ship, belonging to David Dunham. We were 
bound to Batavia, and sailed in January. After being a 
short time at sea, we found all our water gone, with the ex- 
ception of one cask. The remainder had been lost by the 
bursting of the hoops, in consequence of the water's having 
frozen. We went on a short allowance ; and suffered a good 
deal by the privation. Our supercargo, a young gentleman 
of the name of Croes, came near dying. We went on, 
however, intending to go into one of the Cape de Verdes. 
We got up our casks, and repaired them, in the meanwhile. 
Off the Island of Fuego, we hove to, and found we could get 
no water. We got a few goats, and a little fruit ; but were 
compelled to proceed. Luckily, it came on to rain very 
hard, and we stopped all the scuppers, filling every cask we 
had, in this easy manner. We began about eight at night, 
and were through before morning. Capital water it proved ; 
and it lasted us to Batavia. There, indeed, it would even 
have brought a premium ; being so much better than any- 
thing to be had in that port. It changed ; but sweetened 
Itself very soon. 

We first went into Batavia, and entered the ship ; after 
which, we sailed for a roadstead, called Terragall, to take 
in rice. The vessel was in ballast, and had brought money 
to make her purchases with. We got our cargo off in boats, 
and sailed for Batavia, to clear ; all within a few weeks. 



136 NED MYERS; OR, 

The second night out, the ship struck, in fair weather, and 
a moderate sea, on a mud-bank ; and brought up all stand- 
ing. We first endeavoured to force the vessel over the bank ; 
but this did not succeed ; and, the tide leaving her, the ship 
fell over on her bilge ; bringing her gunwales under water. 
Luckily, she lay quiet; though a good deal strained. The 
captain now took a boat, and four men, and pulled ashore, 
to get prows, to lighten the vessel. We had but eight men 
before the mast, and six aft. This, of course, left only nine 
souls on board. That night nothing occurred ; but, in the 
morning early, two piratical prows approached, and showed 
a disposition to board us. Mr. Croes was the person who 
saved the ship. He stuck up handspikes, and other objects, 
about deck ; putting hats and caps on them, so as to make 
us appear very strong-handed. At the same time, we got a 
couple of sixes to bear on the prows ; and succeeded in keep- 
ing them at a safe distance. They hovered about until sun- 
set, when they left us ; pulling ashore. Just as they were 
quitting us, twenty-seven boats hove in sight ; and we made 
a signal to them, which was not answered. We set them 
down as enemies, too ; but, as they came nearer, we per- 
ceived our own boat among them, and felt certain it was the 
captain. 

We discharged everything betwixt decks into the boats, 
that night, and got the ship afloat before morning. We now 
hove clear of the bank, restowed the cargo, and made sail 
for Batavia. The ship leaked badly, and kept us hard at 
the pumps. As there were no means for repairing the ves- 
sel where we were, it was resolved to take in extra hands, 
ship two box-pumps, and carry the vessel to the Isle of 
France, in order to repair her. I did not like the prospect 
of such a passage, and confess I played " old soldier" to get 
rid of it. I contrived to get, on a sick ticket, into the hos- 
pital, and the ship sailed without me. At the Isle of France, 
the Trio was condemned ; her hulk being, in truth, muclrt 
worse than my own, docked though I was. 



a LIFE BEFORE THE MAS?. 137 



CHAPTER XII. 

As soon as the Trio was off, I got well. Little did I 
then think of the great risk I ran in going ashore ; for it 
was almost certain death for an European to land, for any 
length of time, at that season. Still less did I, or could I, 
anticipate what was to happen to myself, in this very hos- 
pital, a few years later ; or how long I was to be one of its 
truly suffering, and, I hope, repentant inmates. The consul 
was frank enough to tell me that I had been shamming 
Abraham ; and I so far imitated his sincerity as distinctly 
to state, it was quite true. I thought the old Trio ought to 
have been left on the bank, where Providence had placed 
her ; but, it being the pleasure of her captain and the super- 
cargo to take her bones to the Isle of France for burial, I 
did not choose to go so far, weeping through the pumps, to 
attend her funeral. 

As the consul held my wages, and refused to give me any 
money, I was compelled to get on board some vessel as soon 
as I could. Batavia was not a place for an American con- 
stitution, and I was glad to be off. I shipped, before the 
mast, in the Clyde, of Salem, a good little ship, with good 
living and good treatment. We sailed immediately, but not 
soon enough to escape the Batavia fever. Two of the crew 
died, about a week out, and were buried in the Straits of 
Banca. The day we lost sight of Java Head, it came on to 
blow fresh, and we had to take in the jib, and double-reef 
the topsails. A man of the name of Day went down on the 
bowsprit shrouds to clear the jib-sheets, when the ship made 
a heavy pitch, and washed him away. The second mate 
and myself got into the boat, and were lowered as soon as 
the ship was rounded-to. There was a very heavy sea on, 
but we succeeded in finding the poor fellow, who was swim- 
ming with great apparent strength. His face was towards 
the boat, and, as we came near, I rose, and threw the blade 
of my oar towards him, calling out to him. to be of good 
cheer. At this instant, Day seemed to spring nearly his 
'ength out of water, and immediately sunk. What caused 
this extraordinarj' effort, ar d sudden failure, was never 
12* 



138 NED MYERS; OR 

known. I ha\ e scmetimes thought a shark must have strack 
him, though I saw neithei- blood nor fish. The man was 
hopelessly lost^ and we returned to the ship, feeling as seamen 
always feel on such occasions. 

A few days later, another man died of the fever. This 
left but five of us in the forecastle, with the ship a long way 
to the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope. Before we got 
up with the Cape, another foremast hand went crazy, and, 
instead of helping us, became a cause of much trouble for 
the rest of the passage. In the end, he died, mad. We had 
now only three men in a watch, the officers included ; and 
of course, it was trick and trick at the helm. Notwithstand- 
ing all this, we did very well, having a good run, until we 
got on the coast, which we reached in the month of January. 
A north-wester di'ove us off, and we had a pretty tough week 
of it, but brought the ship up to the Hook, at the end of that 
time, and anchored her safely in the East River. The Clyde 
must have been a ship of about three hundred tons, and, in- 
cluding every one on board, nine of us sailed her from the 
eastward of the Cape to her port, without any serious diffi- 
culty. 

I did not stay long ashore, for the money went like smoke, 
but shipped in a brig called the Margaret, bound to Belfast. 
This vessel struck in the Irish channel, but she was backed 
off with little difficulty, and got safe into her port. The re- 
turn passage was pleasant, and without any accident. 

Such a voyage left little to spend, and I was soon on the 
look-out for a fresh berth. I shipped this time as mate, in 
a brig called the William Henry, bound on a smuggling 
voyage to the coast of Spain. We took in tobacco, segars, 
&c, &c,,and the brig dropped down to Staten Island. Here 
I quarrelled with the captain about some cotton wick, and 1 
threw up my situation, I knew there were more ships than 
parish churches, and felt no concern about finding a place in 
one, up at town. The balance of my advance was paid 
back, and I left the smuggling trade, like an honest man. I 
only wish this change of purpose had proceeded from a better 
moiive. 

My next windfall was Jack's berth on board a beautiful 
.ittle schooner called the Ida, that was to sail for Curaqoa, 
in the hope of being purchased by the governor of the island 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 139 

or a yacht. I expected to find my way to the Spanish 
main, alter the craft was sold. We got out without any 
accident, going into port of a Sunday morning. The same 
morning, an English i'rigate and a sloop of-war came in and 
anchored. That allernoon these vessels commenced giving 
liberty to their men. We were alongside of a wharf, and, 
m the afternoon, our crew took a drift in some public gar- 
dens in the suburbs of the town. Here an incident occurred 
that is sufficiently singular to be mentioned. 

I was by myself in the garden, ruminating on the past, 
and, I suppose, looking melancholy and in the market, when 
I perceived an English man-of-war's-man eyeing me pretty 
closely. After a while, he came up, and fell into discourse 
with me. Something that fell from him made me distrust 
him from the first, and I acted with great caution. After 
sounding me for some time, he inquired if I had any berth. 
I told him, no. He then went on, little by little, until he got 
such answers as gave him confidence, when he let me into 
the secret of his real object. He said he belonged to the 
frigate, and had liberty until next morning — that he and four 
of his shipmates who were ashore, had determined to get 
possession of the pretty little Yankee schooner that was lying 
alongside of the Telegraph, at the wharf, and carry her down 
to Laguayra. All this was to be done that night, and he 
wished me to join the party. By what fell from this man, 
I made no doubt his design was to turn pirate, after he had 
sold the flour then in the Ida. I encouraged him to go on, 
and we drank together, until he let me into his whole plan. 
The scheme was to come on board the schooner, after the 
crew had turned in, to fasten all hands below, set the foresail 
and jib, and run out with the land-breeze ; a thing that was 
feasible enough, considering there is never any watch kept 
in merchant-vessels that lie at wharves. 

Aftei a long talk, I consented to join the enterprise, and 
agreed to be, at nine o'clock, on board the Telegraph, a 
Philadelphia ship, outside of which our schooner lay. This 
vessel had a crew of blacks, and, as most of them were then 
ashore, it was supposed many would not return to her that 
night. My conspirator observed — " the Yankees that be- 
'ong to the schooner are up yonder in the garden, and will 
be half drunk, so they will all be sound asleep, and can 



i.4.0 NED MYERS; OR, 

give us little trouble." I remember he professed to have no 
intention of hurting any of us, but merely to run away with 
us, and sell the craft from under us. We parted with a 
clear understanding of the manner in which everything was 
to be done. 

I know no other reason why this man chose to select me 
for his companion in such an adventure, than the circum- 
stance that I happened to be alone, and perhaps I may have 
looked a little under the weather. He was no sooner gone, 
however, than I managed to get near my shipmates, and to 
call them out of the garden, one by one. As we went 
away, I told them all that had happened, and we laid our 
counter-plot. When we reached the Telegraph, it was near 
night, and finding only two of the blacks on board her, we 
let them into the secret, and they joined us, heart and hand. 
We got something to drink, as a matter of course, and tried 
to pass the time as well as we could, until the hour lor 
springing the mine should arrive. 

Pretty punctually to the hour, we heard footsteps on the 
quay, and then a gang of men stopped alongside of the ship. 
We stowed ourselves under the bulwarks, and presently the 
gentlemen came on board, one by one. The negroes were 
too impatient, however, springing out upon their prey a little 
too soon. We secured three of the rascals, but two escaped 
us, by jumping down upon the quay and running. Consider- 
ing we were all captains, this was doing pretty well. 

Our three chaps were Englishmen, and I make no doubt 
belonged to the frigate, as stated. As soon as they were 
fairly pinned, and they understood there was no officer 
among us, they began to beg. They said their lives would 
be forfeited if we gave them up, and they entreated us to let 
them go. We kept them about half an hour, and finally 
yielded to their solicitations, giving them their liberty again. 
They were very thankful for their escape, especially as I 
told them what had passed between myself and the man in 
the garden. This fellow was one of the two that escaped, 
and had the appearance of a man who might very well be- 
come a leader among pirates. 

The next day the two men-of-war went to sea, and I 
make no doubt carried off the intended pirates in them. As 
for us seamen, we never told our own officers anything 



A LIFE BEFORE TH£ MAST. 141 

about the affair, for I was not quite satisfied with myself, 
after letting the scoundrels go. One scarcely knows what 
to do in such a case, as one does not like to be the means 
of getting a fellow-creature hanged, or of letting a rogue es- 
cape. A pirate, of all scoundrels, deserves no mercy, and 
yet Jack does not relish the idea of being a sort of Jack 
Ketch, neither. If the thing were to be done over again, I 
think I should hold on to my prisoners. 

We discharged our cargo of flour, and failing in the at- 
tempt to sell the schooner, we took in dye-wood, and re- 
turned to New York. I now made a serious attempt to 
alter my mode of living, and to try to get up a few rounds 
of the great ladder of life. Hitherto, I had felt a singular 
indifference whether I went to sea as an officer, or as a 
foremast Jack, with the exception of the time I had a mar- 
riage with Sarah in view. But I was now drawing near to 
thirty, and if anything was to be done, it must be done at 
once. Looking about me, I found a brig called the Hippo- 
menes, bound to Gibraltar, and back. I shipped before the 
mast, but kept a reckoning, and did all I could to qualify 
myself to become an officer. We had a winter passage out, 
but a pleasant one home. Nothing worthy of being record- 
ed, however, occurred. I still continued to be tolerably 
correct, and after a short stay on shore, I shipped in the 
Belle Savage, commanded by one of the liberated Halifax 
prisoners, who had come home in the Swede, at the time of 
my own return. This person agreed to take me as chief 
mate, and I shipped accordingly. The Belle Savage was a 
regular Curacoa trader, and we sailed ten or twelve days 
after the Hippomenes got in. Our passages both ways were 
pleasant and safe, and I stuck by the craft, endeavouring to 
be less thoughtless and careless about myself I cannot 
say, however, I had any very serious plans for making 
provision for old age, my maxim being to live as I went 
along. 

Our second passage out to Curaqoa, in the Belle Savage, 
was pleasant, and brought about nothing worthy of being 
mentioned. At Curacoa we took in mahogany, and in so 
doing a particularly large log got away from us, and slid, 
end on, against the side of the vessel. We saw no con- 
sequences at the time, and went on to fill up, with different 



142 NED BIYERS; OR, 

articles, principally dye-woods, coffee, cocoa, &c. We got 
some passengers, among whom was a Jew merchant, who 
had a considerable amount of money on board. When 
ready, we sailed, being thirty souls in all, crew and passen- 
gers included. 

The Belle Savage had cleared the islands, and was stand- 
ing on her course, one day, with a fair wind and a five or 
six knot breeze, under a fore-top-mast studding-sail, every- 
thing looking bright and prosperous. The brig must have 
been about a day's run to the southward of Bermuda. It 
was my watch below, but having just breakfasted, I was on 
deck, and looking about me carelessly, I was struck with 
the appearance of the vessel's being deeper than common, 
I had a little conversation about it, with a man in the fore- 
chains, who thought the same thing. This man leaned over, 
in order to get a better look, when he called out that he 
could see that we had started a butt 1 I went over, imme- 
diately, and got a look at this serious injury. A butt had 
started, sure enough, just under the chains, but so low down 
as to be quite out of our reach. The plank had started 
quite an inch, and it was loosened as much as two feet, 
forward and aft. We sounded the pumps, as soon as pos- 
sible, and found the brig was half full of water ! 

All hands were now called to get both the boats afloat, 
and there was certainly no time to be lost. The water rose 
over the cabin-floor while we were doing it. We did not 
stand to get up tackles, but cut away the rail and launched 
the long-boat by hand. We got the passengers, men, wo- 
men, children, and servants into her, as fast as possible, and 
followed ourselves. Fortunately, there had been a brig in 
company for some time, and she was now less than two 
leagues ahead of us, outsailing the Belle Savage a little. We 
had hoisted our ensign, union down, as a signal of distress, 
and well knew she must see that our crafl; had sunk, after 
It happened, if she did not observe our ensign. She per- 
ceived the signal, however, and. could not fail to notice the 
manner in which the brig was all adrift, as soon as we de- 
serted the helm. The strange brig had hauled up for us 
even before we got out the launch. This rendered any sup- 
ply of food or water unnecessary, and we were soon readj 
to sho\e off, I was in the small boat, with three men. We 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 14S 

pjlled off a little distance, and lay looking at our sinking 
craft with saddened eyes. Even the gold, that precious dust 
which lures so many souls to eternal perdition, was abandon- 
ed in the hurry to save the remnants of lives to be passed 
on earth. The Belle Savage settled quite slowly into the 
ocean, one sail disappearing after another, her main-royal 
being the last thing that went out of sight, looking like the 
lug of a man-of-war's boat on the water. It is a solemn 
thing to see a craft thus swallowed up in the great vortex 
of the ocean. 

The brig in sight proved to be the Mary, of New York, 
from St. Thomas, bound home. She received us kindly, 
and six days later landed us all at no great distance from 
Fulton Market. When my foot touched the wharf, my 
whole estate was under my hat, and my pockets were as 
empty as a vessel with a swept hold. On the wharf, itself, 
I saw a man who had been second-mate of the Tontine, the 
little ship in which I had sailed when I first ran from the 
Sterling. He was now master of a brig called the Mechanic, 
that was loading near by, for Trinidad de Cuba. He 
heard my story, and shipped me on the spot, at nine dollars 
a. month, as a forward hand. I began to think I was born 
to bad luck, and being almost naked, was in nowise partic- 
ular what became of me. I had not the means of getting 
a mate's outfit, though I might possibly have got credit ; but 
at no period of my life did I run in debt. Here, then, my 
craft got stern-way on her again, and I had a long bit of 
rough water to go over. 

The Mechanic sailed four or five days after the Mary 
arrived, and I travelled the old road over again. Nothing 
happened until we got to the southward of Cuba. But my 
bad luck had thrown me into the West India trade at the 
very moment when piracy was coming to its height in those 
seas, though I never thought on the subject at all. Off" the 
Isle of Pines, one morning, we made a schooner and a sloop, 
inshore of us, and both bore up in chase. We knew them 
to be pirates, and crowded sail dead before the wind to get 
clear. The captain determined, if necessary, to run dowr 
as far as Jamaica, where he expected to fall in with some 
of the English cruisers. The schooner sailed very fast, and 
was for commg up with us, but they made the mistake of 



144 NED MYERS OR, 

setting a flying-topsail on board her, and from that moment 
we dropped her. It was thought in our brig, that the little 
craft buried too much, with such a pressure aloft. The 
shase lasted all day, a Sunday, and a part of the night ; but 
the following morning nothing was to be seen of either of 
our pursuers. Our captain, whose name was Ray, thought 
he knew who commanded the schooner, a man who had 
been his enemy, and it was believed the pirates knew our 
brig, as she was a regular trader to Trinidad. This made 
our captain more ticklish, and was the reason he was off so 
soon. 

When we found the coast clear, we hauled up, again, and 
made our port without further molestation. The chase was 
so common a thing, that little was said about the affair. We 
discharged, took in a new cargo, and sailed for home in due 
time. Care was had in sailing at an early hour, and we sent 
a boat out to look if the coast were clear, before we put to 
sea. We met with no interruption, however, reaching New 
York in due time. 

Captain Ray was desirous I should stick by the brig; but, 
for some reason I cannot explain, I felt averse to returning 
to Trinidad. I Uked the vessel well enough, was fond of 
the captain, and thought little of the pirates ; and yet I felt 
an unaccountable reluctance to re-shipping in the craft. It 
was well I had this feeling, for, I have since heard, this very 
schooner got the brig the next passage out, murdered all 
hands, and burnt the vessel, in sight of the port ! I set this 
escape down, as one of the many unmerited favours I have 
received from Providence. 

• My next berth was that of second-mate on board a new 
ship, in the Charleston trade, called the Franklin. I made 
the voyage, and, for a novelty, did not run in the southern 
port, which was a rare circumstance in that place. 

I got but twelve dollars, as dickey, in the Franklin, and 
left her to get twenty, with the same berth, on board a ship 
called the Foster, commanded by the same master as had 
commanded the Jane, in my former voyag . to Ireland. 
The Foster was bound to Belfast, which port we reached 
without any accident. We took in salt, and a few boxes of 
linens, for Norfolk ; arrived safe, discharged, and went up 
the James river to City Point, after a cargo of tobacco 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 145 

Thence we sailed for Rotterdam. The ship brought back a 
quantity of gin to New York, and this gin caused me some 
trouble. We had a tremendous passage home — one of the 
worst I ever experienced at sea. The ship's rudder got 
'oose, and was secured with difficulty. We had to reef all 
three of our top-masts, also, to save the spars ; after which 
we could only carry double-reefed topsails. It was in the 
dead of winter, and the winds hung to the westward for a 
long time. The cook, a surly negro, was slack in duty, and 
refused to make scous for us, though there were plenty of 
potatoes on board. All the people but five were off duty, 
and it came hard on those who kept watch. We determined, 
at length, to bring the black to his senses, and I had him 
seized to the windlass. Everybody but the captain took 
three clips at him ; the fellow being regularly cobbed, accord- 
ing to sea usage. This was lawful punishment for a cook. 
We got our scous after this, but the negro logged the 
whole transaction, as one may suppose. He was particu- 
larly set against me, as I had been ringleader in the cobbing. 
The weather continued bad, the watches were much fagged, 
and the ship gave no grog. At length I could stand it no 
longer, or thought I could not ; and I led down betwixt decks, 
tapped a cask of gin, introduced the stem of a clean pipe 
and took a nip at the bowl. All my watch smoked this pipe 
pretty regularly, first at one cask and then at another, until 
we got into port. The larboard watch did the same, and I 
do think the strong liquor helped us along that time. As 
bad luck would have it, the cook's wood was stowed among 
the casks, and, one morning, just as the last of us had 
knocked off smoking, we saw the wool of this gentleman 
heaving in sight, through the hatch by which we went down. 
Still, nothing was said until we came to be paid off, when 
the darky came out with his yarn. I owned it all, and in- 
sisted we never could have brought the ship in, unless we 
had got the gin. I do believe both captain and owner were 
sorry we had been complained of, but they could not over- 
look the matter. I was mulcted five-and-twenty dollars, and 
left the ship. I know I did wrong, and I know that the 
owners did what was right ; but I cannot help thinking, bad 
fts gin is on a long pull, that this did us good. I was not 
driven from the ship ; on the contrary, both master and 
13 



146 NED MYERS; OK, 

owners wished me to remain ; but I felt a little savage, and 
quitted their employment. 

That I did not carry a very bad character away with me, 
is to be proved by the fact that I shipped, the same day, on 
board the Washington, a vessel bound to London, and which 
lay directly alongside of the Foster. I had the same berth 
as that I had just left, with the advantage of getting better 
wages. This voyage carried me to London for the first time 
since I left it in the Sterling. Too many years had elapsed, 
in the interval, for me to find any old acquaintances ; and I 
had grown from a boy to a man. Here I got a little insight 
into the business of carrying passengers, our ship bringing 
more or less, each passage. I stuck by the Washington a 
year, making no less than three voyages in her ; the last, as 
her chief mate. Nothing occurred worth mentioning in the 
four first passages across the Atlantic ; but the fifth pro- 
duced a little more variety. 

The Washington had proved to be a leaky ship, every 
passage I made in her. We had docked her twice in Lon- 
don, and it had done her good. The first week out, on the 
fifth passage, the ship proved tight, but the weather was mo- 
derate. It came on to blow heavily, however, when we got 
to the eastward of the Banks ; and the vessel, which was 
scudding under her close-reefed main-topsail and foresail, 
laboured so much, that I became uneasy. I knew she was 
overloaded, and was afraid of the effects of a gale. It was 
my practice to keep one pump ready for sounding the wells, 
and I never neglected this duty in my watch. When the 
gale was at the height, in my forenoon's watch below, I felt 
so uncomfortable, that I turned out and went on deck, in no- 
thing but my trowsers, to sound, although I had sounded less 
than two hours before, and found the water at the sucking- 
height, only. To my surprise, it was now three feet ! 

This change was so great and so sudden, all of us thought 
there must be some mistake. I carried the rod below, to dry 
it, and covered the lower part with ashes. I could not have 
been busy in drying the rod more than ten or fifl;een minutes, 
when it was lowered again. The water had risen several 
inches in that short period ! 

All tiiis looked very serious ; and I began to think a third 
craft was to founder under mo. After a short consultation 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 147 

il was determined to lighten the ship. The foresail was 
hauled up, the men got into the rigging to keep clear of the 
seas, and the vessel was rounded-lo. We then knocked 
away the wash-boards in the wake of the two hatches, and 
began to tumble the barrels of turpentine on deck, I never 
felt so strong in my life, nor did so much work in so short a 
lime. During the labour I went below to splice the main- 
brace, and, after putting a second-mate's nip of brandy into my 
glass, filled it, as I supposed, with water, drinking it all down 
without stopping to breathe. It turned out that my water 
was high- proof gin ; yet this draught had no more effect on 
me than if it had been so much cold water. In ordinary 
times, it would have made me roaring drunk. 

We tumbled up all the cargo from betwixt decks, landing 
it on deck, where it rolled into the sea of itself, and were 
about to begin upon the lower hold, when the captain called 
out avast, as the pumps gained fast. Half an hour later, 
they sucked. This was joyful news, indeed, for I had be- 
gun to think we should be driven to the boats. Among the 
cargo were some pickled calf-skins. In the height of the 
danger I caught the cook knocking the head out of a cask, 
and stowing some of the skins in a tub. Asking the reason 
why he did this, he told me he wanted to take some of those 
line skins home with him ! It was a pity they should be 
lost! 

As soon as the pumps sucked, the ship was kept away to 
her course, and she proved to be as tight as a bottle. Eight 
or ten days later, while running on our course under stud- 
ding-sails, we made a large vessel ahead, going before the 
wind like ourselves, but carrying reefed topsails, with top- 
gallant-sails over them, and her ensign whipped. Of course 
we neared her fast, and as we came up with her, saw that 
she was full of men, and that her crew were pumping and 
bailing. We knew how to pity the poor fellows, and run- 
ning alongside, demanded the news. We were answered 
first with three cheers, after which we heard their story. 

The vessel was an English bark, full of soldiers, bound 
to New Brunswick. She had sprung a leak, like ourselves, 
find was only kept afloat by constant pumping and bailing. 
She had put back for England on account of the wind and 
the distance. Our captain was asked to keep near the tians- 



148 NED MYERS ; OR, 

port, and we shortened sail accordingly. For three days 
and nights the two vessels ran side by side, within hail 
our passengers and officers drinking to theirs, and vice versd, 
at dinner. On the fourth day, the weather being fine, the 
wind fair, and our reckoning making us near the channel, 
we told the Englishman we would run ahead, make the land, 
and heave-to. We stood in so far that the poor fellows 
owned afterwards they thought we had left them. This was 
not our intention, however, for we no sooner made the land 
than we hauled up, and brought them the joyful news of its 
vicinity. They cheered us again, as we closed with them, 
and both ships jogged on in company. 

Next morning, being well in with the land, and many 
vessels in sight, the Englishmen desired us to make sail, as 
they could carry their bark into Falmouth. We did so, 
and reached London, in due time. On our return to New 
York, the Washington was sold, and I lost my preferment 
in that employment, though I went with a character to an- 
other vessel, and got the same berth. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

My next craft was the Camillus, a ship that was bound 
to Greenock, via Charleston. We got to the latter port 
without accident, and took in a cargo of cotton. The ship 
was all ready for sailing of a Saturday, and the captain had 
gone ashore, telling me he would be on board early in the 
morning, when we could haul out and go to sea, should the 
wind be favourable. I gave the people their Saturday's 
night, and went into the cabin to freshen the nip, myself. 
I took a glass or two, and certainly had more in me than is 
good for a man, though I was far from being downright 
drunk. In a word, I had too much, though I could have 
carried a good deal more, on a pinch. The steward had 
gone ashore, and there being no second- mate, I Wcis all 
alone. 

In this state of things, I heard a noise, and went on deck 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 149 

CO inquire what was the matter. My old ship, the Frank- 
lin, was shifting her berth, and her jib-boom had come foul 
of our tafirail. After some hailing, I got on the tatFrail to 
shove our neighbour off, when, by some carelessness of my 
own, I fell head-foremost, hitting the gunwale of the boat, 
which was hanging, about half way up to the davits, into 
the water. The tide set me away, and carried me between 
the wharf and the ship astern of us, which happened to be 
the William Thompson, Captain Thompson, owner Thomp- 
son, mate Thompson, and all Thompson, as Mathews used 
to have it. Captain Thompson was reading near the cabin 
windows, and he luckily heard me groan. Giving the 
alarm, a boat was got round, and I taken in. As the 
night was dark, and 1 lost all consciousness after the fall, I 
consider this escape as standing second only to that from 
the shark in the West Indies, and old Trant's gun, the 
night the Scourge went down. I did not recover my recol- 
lection for several hours. This was not the effect of liquor, 
but of the fall, as I remember everything /distinctly that oc- 
curred before I went from the taffrail. Still I confess that 
liquor did all the mischief, as I had drunk just enough to 
make me careless. 

In the morning, I found myself disabled in the left 
arm. and I went to a doctor. This gentleman said he 
never told a fellow what ailed him until he got his whack. 
I gave him a dollar, and he then let me into the secret. 
My collar-bone was broken. " And, now," says he, " for 
another dollar I'll patch you up." I turned out the other 
Spaniard, when he was as good as his word. Going in the 
ship, however, was out of the question, and I was obliged 
to get a young man to go on board the Camillus in my 
place ; thus losing the voyage and my berth. 

I was now ashore, with two or three months of drift be- 
fore me. Since the time I joined the Washington, I had 
been going regularly ahead, and I do think had 1 been able 
to stick by the Camillus, I might have brought up a master, 
I had laid up money, and being employed while in port, 
I was gradually losinj- my taste for sailor amusements, 
and getting more respect for myself. That fall from the 
(aflrail was a sad drawback for me, and 1 never recovered 
the lee-way it brought about. 
13* 



150 NEDMYERS;OR, 

I was more than two months ashore, behaving myself 
rationally on account of my arm. At the end of that time, 
I went on board the Sally, a ship also bound to Greenock^ 
as her second-mate. This vessel belonged to Charleston, 
and it was intended she should return to her own port. The 
voyage turned out well, and my arm got as strong as ever. 
On reaching Charleston, I left the craft, which was laid up, 
and shipped in a schooner of the same name, bound to St. 
Domingo, as her chief mate. This was no great craft, cer- 
tainly, though she proved a tight, wholesome sea-boat. We 
went out without any accident, arriving in safety at Cape 
Henry. After discharging cargo, and smuggling on board 
a quantity of doubloons — four hundred and eighty, it was 
said — we got under way for the island of Cuba. We in- 
fended to go into Matanzas, and kept along the coast. After 
crossing the Windward Passage, we reached Cuba; and 
were standing on, with a light wind, under our squaresail, 
the morning of the third day out, when we saw a large boat, 
carrying two sails, standing out from the shore, evidently in 
chase of the schooner. We had on board eight souls, viz. 
the owner, a Frenchman, who had been a dragoon in the 
service of his own country, but who was now between sev- 
enty and eighty ; the captain, myself, a boy, the cook, and 
four men forward. We could see that there were nine men 
in the boat. We had no arms in the schooner, not even a 
pistol, and the men in the boat had muskets. We did not 
ascertain this last fact, however, for some time. I thought 
the strangers pirates the moment I saw them come out from 
inder the land, but the captain maintained that they were 
turtle-men. The boat was rowing, and came up with us, 
hand over hand. When near, they commenced firing mus- 
kets at us, to drive us below. All the crew forward, with 
the cook, ran down into the forecastle, leaving no one on 
deck but the captain, the old Frenchman, and myself. The 
boy got into the companion-way. 

What the others did on deck, as these gentry came along- 
side, amusing themselves with keeping up a smart fire of 
musketry, I do not know; but my own occupation was to 
dodge behind the foremast. It was not long, however, be- 
fore they came tumbling in, and immediately got possession 
of the schooner. One or two came forward and secured tho 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 151 

forecastle hatch, to keep the people down. Then they pro- 
bably felt that they were masters. One chap drew a fear- 
ful-looking knife, long, slender, sharp and glittering, and he 
cut the halyards of the square-sail. All the men I saw in 
the schooner struck me as Americans, or English, affecting 
to be Spaniards. There is such a difference in the height, 
complexion, and general appearance of the people of Spain, 
and those of the two other countries, without reference to 
the manner of speaking, that I do not think I could be mis- 
taken. I saw but one man among these pirates, whom I 
took for a real Spaniard. It is true their faces were all 
blacked to disguise them, but one could get enough glimpses 
of the skin to judge of the true colour. There was no negro 
among them. 

The chap who cut away the square-sail halyards, I felt 
certain was no Spaniard. The sail was no sooner down, 
than he ran his knife along the head, below the bolt-rope, as 
if to cut away the cloth with the least trouble to himself. I 
was standing near, and asked him why he destroyed the 
sail ; if he wanted it, why he did not take it whole 1 At 
this, he turned short round upon me, raised his arm, and 
struck a heavy b-low at me with his fearful-looking knife. 
The point of the deadly weapon struck square on my breast- 
bone ! I fell, partly through the force of the blow, and 
partly from policy ; for I thought it safest to be lying on 
my back. I got several hearty kicks, in addition to this 
fierce attack, together with sundry curses in broken Spanish. 
I spoke in English, of course ; and that the man understood 
me was clear enough by the expression of his countenance, 
and his act. The wound was slight, though it bled a good 
deal, covering my shirt and trowsers with blood, as much as 
if I had been run through the heart. An inch or two, either 
way, in the direction of the knife, would certainly have 
killed me. 

I do not know what might have been the end of this 
affair, had not one of the pirates come forward, at this criti- 
cal instant, and checked my assailant by shaking a fingei 
at him. This man, I feel very certain, I knew. I will not 
mention his name, as there is a doubt ; but I cannot think I 
was mistaken. If I am right, he was a young man from 
Connecticut, who sailed one voyage to Liverpool wiih mn in 



152 NED MYERS; OR, 

the Sterling. With that young man I had been very int 
mate, and was oftener with him ashore than with any other 
of the crew. His face was blackened, like those of all his 
companions, but this did not conceal his air, manner, size, 
eyes and voice. When he spoke, it was in a jargon of 
broken English and broken Spanish, such as no man accus- 
tomed to either language from infancy would have used. 
The same was true as to all the rest I heard speak, with the 
exception of an old fellow in the boat, whom I shall presently 
have occasion to mention, again. 

The man I took to be my old shipmate, also seemed to 
know me. I was but a lad when I quitted the Sterling, it is 
true ; but they tell me I have not altered a great deal in 
general appearance. My hair is still black ; and then, when 
I was in the very prime of life, it must have been easy to 
recognize me. So strongly was I impressed, at the time, 
that I saw an old acquaintance, I was about to call him by 
name, when, luckily, it crossed my mind this might be dan- 
gerous. The pirates wished clearly to be unknown, and it 
was wisest to let them think they were so. My supposed 
shipmate, however, proved my friend, and I received no 
more personal ill treatment after he had spoken to his com- 
panion. I sometimes think he was the means, indeed, of 
saving all our lives. He asked me if there was any money, 
and, on my denying it, he told me they knew better : the 
schooner was in ballast, and must have got something for 
her outward cargo. I refused to tell, and he ordered me 
into their boat, whither the captain had been sent before me. 
In doing all this, his manner wore an appearance, to me, of 
assumed severity. 

The poor old Frenchman fared worse. They seemed to 
know he was owner, and probably thought he could give 
the best account of the money. At any rate, he was un- 
mercifully flogged, though he held out to the last, refusing 
to betray his doubloons. The boy was next attacked with 
threats of throwing him overboard. This extracted the se- 
cret, and the doubloons were soon discovered. 
, The captain and myself had been stowed under a half- 
deck, in the boat, but as soon as the money was found, the 
old Spaniard, who stood sentinel over us, was told to let ug 
out, that we might see the fun. There were the eight scoun 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 153 

drels, paraded around the trunk of the schooner, dividing 
the doubloons. As soon as this was done, we were told to 
come alongside with our boat, which had been used to carry 
us to the piratical craft. The captain got on board the Sally 
and I was ordered to scull the rogues, in one gang, back to 
their own craft. The scamps were in high spirits, seeming 
much pleased with their haul. They cracked a good many 
jokes at our expense, but were so well satisfied with their 
gold, that they left the square-sail behind them. They had 
robbed the cabin, however, carrying off, for me, a quadrant, 
a watch, and a large portion of my clothes. The forecas- 
tle had not been entered, though the men had four hundred 
dollars lying under a pile of dirt and old junk, to keep them 
out of sight. 

My supposed ship-mate bore me in mind to the last. When 
we reached his craft, he poured out a glass of brandy and 
offered it to me. I was afraid to drink, thinking it might 
be poisoned. He seemed to understand me, and swallowed 
it himself, in a sign'ficant manner. This gave me courage, 
and I took the next nip without hesitation. He then told 
me to shove off, which I did without waiting for a second 
order. The pirates pulled away at the same time. 

We were a melancholy party, as soon as we found ourselves 
left to ourselves. The old Frenchman was sad enough, and 
all of us pitied him. He made no complaint of the boy, 
not\yithstanding, and little was said among us about the rob- • 
bery. My wound proved trifling, though the old man was 
so bruised and beaten that he could scarcely walk. 

As soon as a breeze came, we went into Charleston, hav- 
ing no means to buy the cargo we had intended to get at 
Matanzas. This was the first time I was ever actually 
boarded by a pirate, although I had had several narrow 
escapes before. The first was in the Sterling, off the coast 
of Portugal ; the next was in the William and Jane, out- 
ward bound to Canton ; the third was on the bank, in the 
Trio, off the coast of Java ; and the fourth, in the Mechanic, 
on the other side of Cuba. It was not the last of my affairs 
with them, however, as will be seen in the sequel. 

I went out in the Sally again, making a voyage to Ma- 
tanzas and back, without any accident, or incident, worth 
mentioning. I still intended to remain in this schooner, the 



1 54 N£DMYERS;OR, 

captain and I agreeing perfectly well, had I not been driven 
out of her by one of those unlucky accidents, of which so 
many have laid me athwart-hawse. 

We were discharging sugar at Charleston, in very heavy 
casks. The tide being in, the vessel's rail was higher than 
the wharf, and we landed the casks on thcrail, from which 
they were rolled down some planks to the shore. Two ne- 
groes were stationed on the wharf to receive the casks, and 
to ease them down. One of these fellows v/as in the prac- 
tice of running up the planks, instead of standing at their 
side and holding on to the end of the hogsheads. I remon- 
strated with him several times about the danger he ran, but 
he paid no attention to what I said. At length my words 
came true ; a cask got away from the men, and rolled di- 
rectly over this negro, flattening him like a bit of dough. 

This was clearly an accident, and no one thought of ac- 
cusing me of any connection with it. But the owner of the 
black looked upon him as one would look upon a hack-horse 
that had been lamed, or killed ; and he came down to the 
schooner, on hearing that his man was done for, swearing 
I should pay for him ! As for paying the price of an ath- 
letic " nigger," it was even more impossible for me, than it 
would seem it is for the great State of Pennsylvania to pay 
the interest on its debt ; and, disliking a lawsuit, I carried 
my dunnage on board another vessel that same afternoon, 
> and agreed to work my passage to New York, as her second- 
mate. 

The vessel I now went on board of was the Commodore 
Rodgers, a regular liner between the two ports. We sailed 
next morning, and I paid for the poor " nigger" with the 
fore-topsail. The ship's husband was on board as we hauled 
out, a man who was much in the habit of abusing the mates. 
On this occasion he was particularly abusive to our chief 
mate ; so much so, indeed, that I remonstrated with the lat- 
ter on his forbearance. Nothing came of it, however, though 
I could not forgei the character of the man who had used 
such language. When we reached New York, our chief 
mate left us, and I was offered the berth. It was a little 
hazardous to go back to Charleston, but wages were low, 
and business dull, the yellow fever being in New York , and 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 155 

I thought, by a httle management, I might give my " nigger 
owner" a sufficient berth. I accordingly agreed to go. 

When we got back to Charleston, our ship lay at her own 
wharf, and I saw nothing of my chap. He worked up town, 
and we lay low down. But another misfortune befel me, 
that led even to worse consequences. The ship's husband, 
who was so foul-mouthed, was as busy as ever, blackguard- 
ing right and left, and finding fault with everything. Our 
cargo was nearly out, and this man and I had a row about 
some kegs of while lead. In the course of the dialogue, he 
called me "a saucy son of a b — h." This was too much 
for my temper, and I seized him and sent him down the 
hatchway. The fall was not great, and some hemp lay in 
the wake of the hatch ; but the chap's collar-bone went. He 
sung out like a singing-master, but I did not stop to chime 
in. Throwing my slate on deck in a high passion, I left the 
ship and went ashore. I fell in with the captain on the 
wharf, told him my story, got a promise from him to send 
me my clothes, and van'shed. In an hour or two, half the 
constables in Charleston were in chase of me. I kept so 
close they could not find me, lying snug for a couple of days. 
This state of things could not last for ever. The consta- 
bles were not half so ferocious as they seemed ; for one 
of them managed to get me off, on board a coaster, called 
the Gov. Russtil ; where I engaged, I may say, as chief 
mate and all hands. The Gov. Russel was a Buford trader, 
making trips about fifteen or twenty leagues long. This was 
the smallest navigation, and the smallest craft,' a gun-boat 
excepted, with which I ever had anything to do. The crew 
consisted of two negroes, both slaves to the owner ; while 
the captain and myself were aft. Whether she would have 
held so many, or not, I never knew, as the captain did not 
join, while I belonged to her. The schooner lay three 
miles below the town ; and, in so much, was a good craft for 
me ; as no one would think of following an old Canton 
trader into such a 'long-shore-looking thing. We busied 
ourselves in painting her, and in overhauling her rigging , 
while the ship's husband, and his myrmidons, amused them- 
selves in searching for me up in town. 

I had been on board the Gov. Russel three days, when it 
came on to blow from the southward and westward, in truo 



l56 NEDMYERS;ORj 

southern style. The gale came on butt-end foremost ; and 
was thought to be as severe, as anything seen in the port 
for many a year. Most of the shipping broke adrift from 
the wharves ; and everything that was anchored, a man-of- 
war and a revenue-cutter excepted, struck adrift, or dragged. 
As for ourselves, we were lying at single anchor ; and soon 
began to walk down towards the bar. I let go the spare 
anchor ; but she snapped her cables, as if they had been 
pack-thread ; and away she went to leeward. Making sail 
was out of the question, had any been b'ent, as ours were 
not ; and I had to let her travel her own road. 

All this happened at night ; when it was so dark, one 
could not see, between the spray, the storm and the hour, 
the length of the craft. I knew we were going towards the 
ocean ; and my great cause of apprehension was the bar. 
Looking for the channel, was out of the question ; I did not 
know it, in the first place ; and, had I been a branch-pilot, 
I could not find it in the dark. I never was more completely 
adrift, in my life, ashore or afloat. We passed a most 
anxious hour, or two ; the schooner driving, broadside-to, I 
knew not whither, or to what fate. The two blacks were 
frightened out of their wits ; and were of no assistance tc 
me. 

At length, I felt the keel come down upon the sands ; and 
then I knew we were on the bar. This happened amid a 
whirlwind of spray ; with nothing visible but the white foam 
of the waters, and the breakers around us. The first blow 
threw both masts out of the steps ; ripping up the decks to a 
considerable extent. The next minute we were on our 
beam-ends ; the sea making a clear breach over us. All we 
could do, was to hold on ; and this we did with difficulty. 
I and the two blacks got on the weather-quarter of the 
schooner, where we lashed ourselves with the main-sheet. 
As this was a stout rope, something must part, before we 
could be washed away. The craft made but two raps on 
the bar, when she drifted clear. ■ 

I now knew we were at sea, and were drifting directly ofF 
the coast. As we got into deep water, the sea did not make 
such terrible surges over us ; though they continued to break 
over our quarter. The masts were thumping away ; but for 
this I cared little, the hold being full of watei already. Sink 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 157 

we could not, having a swept hold, and being built, in a great 
measure, of pine. The schooner floated with about five feet 
of her quarter-deck above water. Her bows had settled the 
most ; and this gave us rather a better chance aft. 

Fortunately, we got the worst of this blow at the first go 
off. The wind began to lessen in strength soon after we 
passed the bar, and by daylight it only blew a stiff breeze. 
No land was in sight, though I knew, by the colour of the 
water, that we could not be a very great distance from the 
coast. We had come out on an ebb-tide, and this had set 
us off the land, but all that southern coast is so low, that it 
was not to be seen from the surface of the ocean at any 
great distance. 

The day that succeeded was sad and dreary enough. 
The weather was fine, the sun coming out even hot upon 
us, but the wind continued to blow fresh off the land, and 
we were drifting further out, every instant, upon the bosom 
of the ocean. Our only hope was in falling in with some 
coaster, and I began to dread drifting outside of their track. 
We were without food or water, and were partly seated on 
the rail, and partly supported by the main-sheet. Neither 
of us attempted to change his berth that day. Little was 
said between us, though I occasionally encouraged the ne- 
groes to hold on, as something would yet pick us up. I had 
a feeling of security on this head that was unreasonable, 
perhaps ; but a sanguine temperament has ever made me a 
little too indifferent to consequences. 

Night brought no change, unless it was to diminish the 
force of the wind. A short time before the sun set, one of 
the negroes said, to me, "Masser Ned, John gone." I was 
forward of the two blacks, and was not looking at them at 
the time ; I suppose I may have been dozing ; but, on look- 
ing up, I found that qne of the negroes had, indeed, disap- 
peared. How this happened I cannot say, as he appeared 
to be well lashed ; but I suppose he worked himself free, 
and being exhausted, he fell into the water, and sunk before 
I could get a glimpse of him. There was nothing to be 
done, however, and the loss of this man had a tendency to 
make me think our situation worse than it had before seem- 
ed to be. Some persons, all good Christians I should sup- 
pose, will feel some curiosity to know whether a man in my 
14 



158 NEDMYERS;OR, 

situation had no disposition to take a religious view of his 
case, and whether his conscience did not apprise him of the 
chances of perdition that seemed to stare him in the face. 
In answer to this, I am compelled to say that no such 
thoughts came over me. In all my risks and emergencies, 
I am not sensible of having given a thought to my Maker. 
I had a sense of fear, an apprehension of death, and an in- 
stinctive desire to save my life, but no consciousness of the 
necessity of calling on any being to save my soul. Not- 
withstanding all the lessons I had received in childhood, I 
was pretty nearly in the situation of one who had never 
heard the name of the Saviour mentioned. The extent of 
my reflections on such subjects, was the self-delusion of 
believing that I was to save myself — I had done no great 
harm, according to the notions of sailors ; had not robbed ; 
had not murdered ; and had observed the mariner's code of 
morals, so far as I understood them ; and this gave me a 
sort of claim on the mercy of God. In a word, the future 
condition of my soul gave me no trouble whatever. 

I dare say my two companions on this little wreck had 
the same indifference on this subject, as I felt myself. I 
heard no prayer, no appeal to God for mercy, nothing in- 
deed from any of us, to show that we thought at all on the 
subject. Hunger gave me a little trouble, and during the 
second night I would fall into a doze, and wake myself up 
by dreaming of eating meals that were peculiarly grateful 
to me. I have had the same thing happen on other occa- 
sions, when on short allowance of food. Neither of the 
blacks said anything on the subject of animal suffering, and 
the one that was lost, went out, as it might be, like a can- 
dle. 

The sun rose on the morning of the second day bright and 
clear. The wind shifted about this time, to a gentle breeze 
from the southward and eastward. This was a little en- 
couraging, as it was setting the schooner in-shore again, but 
I could discover nothing in sight. There was still a good 
deal of sea going, and we were so low in the water, that 
our range of sight was very limited. 

It was late in the forenoon, when the negro called out 
suddenly, " Massa Ned, dere a vessel !" Almost at the 
same instant, I hoard voices calling out ; and, looking round 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 159 

) saw a small coasting schooner, almost upon us. She was 
'doming down before the wind, had evidently seen us some 
time before we saw her, and now ranged up under our lee, 
and hove-to. The schooner down boat, and took us on 
board without any delay. We moved with difficulty, and I 
found my limbs so stiff as to be scarcely manageable. The 
black was in a much worse state than I was myself, and I 
think twelve hours longer would have destroyed both of us. 
The schooner that picked us up was manned entirely with 
blacks, and was bound into Charleston. At the time she 
fell in witli us, we must have been twenty miles from the 
bar, it takir^g us all the afternoon, with a fair wind, to reach 
it. We went below, and as soon as I got in the cabin, I 
discovered a kettle of boiled rice, on which I pounced like a 
hawk. The negroes wished to get it away from me, think- 
ing I should injure myself; but I would not part with it. 
The sweetest meal I ever had in my life, was this rice, a 
fair portion of which, however, I gave to my companion. 
We had not fasted long enough materially to weaken our 
stomachs, and no ill consequences followed from the indul- 
gence. After eating heartily, we both lay down on the ca- 
bin floor, and went to sleep. We reached the wharf about 
eight in the evening. Just wijhin the bar, the schooner was 
spoken by a craft that was going out in search of the Gov. 
Russel. The blacks told her people where the wreck was 
to be found, and the craft stood out to sea. 

I was strong enough to walk up to my boarding-house, 
where I went again into quarantine. The Gov. Russel was 
found, towed into port, was repaired, and went about her 
business, as usual, m the Buford trade. I never saw her or 
her captain again, however. I parted with the negro that 
was saved with me, on the wharf, and never heard anything 
about him afterwards, either. Such is the life of a sailor ! 
I was still afraid of the constables. So much damage 
had been done to more important shipping, and so many 
lives lost, however, that little was said of the escape of the 
Gov. Russel. Then I was not known in this schooner by 
my surname. When I threw the ship's husband down the 
hold, I was Mr. Myers ; when wrecked in the coaster, only 
Ned. 



160 NED MY£RS; OR, 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Notwithstanding my comparative insignificance, thers 
was no real security in remaining long in Charleston, and 
it was my strong desire to quit the place. As " beggars 
cannot be choosers," 1 was glad to get on board the schooner 
Carpenter, bound to St. Mary's and Philadelphia, for, and 
with, ship-timber, as a foremast hand. I got on board unde- 
tected, and we sailed the same day. Nothing occurred until 
after we left St. Mary's, when we met with a singular acci- 
dent. A few days out, it blowing heavy at the time, our 
deck-load pressed so hard upon the beams as to loosen them^ 
and the schooner filled as far as her cargo — yellow pine — 
would allow. This calamity proceeded from the fact, that 
the negroes who stowed the craft neglected to wedge up the 
beams; a precaution that should never be forgotten, with a 
heavy weight on deck. No very serious consequences fol- 
lowed, however, as we managed to drive the craft ahead, 
and finally got her into Philadelphia, with all her cargo on 
board. We did not lose a stick, which showed that our 
captain was game, and did not like to let go when he had 
once got hold. This person was a down-easter, and was 
well acquainted with the Johnstons and Wiscasset. He 
tried hard to persuade me to continue in the schooner as 
mate, with a view to carrying me back to my old friends ; 
but I turned a deaf ear to his advice. To own the truth, I 
was afraid to go back to Wiscassett. My own desertion 
could not well be excused, and then I was apprehensive the 
family might attribute to me the desertion and death of 
young Swett. He had been my senior, it is true, and was 
as able to influence me as I was to influence him ; but con- 
science is a thing so sensitive, that, when we do wrong, it is 
apt to throw the whole error into our faces. 

Quitting the Carpenter in Philadelphia, therefore, I went 
to live in a respectable boarding-house, and engaged to go 
out in a brig called the Margaret, working on board as a 
rigger and stevedore, until she should be ready to sail. My 
berth was to be that of mate. The owner of this brig was 
as notorious, in his way, as the ship's husband in Charleston, 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 161 

I had heard his character, and was determined, if he at- 
tempted to ride me, as he was said to do many of his mates, 
and even captains, he should find himself mounted on a 
hard-going animal. One day, things came to a crisis. The 
owner was on the wharf, with me, and such a string of abuse 
as he launched out upon me, I never before listened to. A 
crowd collected, and my blood got up. I seized the man, 
and dropped him off the wharf into the water, alongside of 
some hoop-poles, that I knew must prevent any accident. 
In this last respect, I was sufficiently careful, though the 
ducking was very thorough. The crowd gave three cheers, 
which I considered as a proof I was not so very wrong. 
Nothing was said of any suit on this occasion; but I walked 
off, and went directly on board a ship called the Coroman- 
del, on which I had had an eye, as a lee, for several days. 
In this vessel I shipped as second-mate ; carrying with me 
all the better character for the ducking given to the notori- 



The Coromandel was bound to Cadiz, and thence round 
the Horn. The outward bound cargo was flour, but to which 
ports we were going in South America, I was ignorant. Our 
crew were all blacks, the officers excepted. We had a good 
passage, until we got off Cape Trafalgar, when it came on 
to blow heavily, directly on end. We lay-to off the Cape 
two days, and then ran into Gibraltar, and anchored. Here 
we lay about a fortnight, when there came on a gale from 
the south-west, which sent a tremendous sea in from the At- 
lantic. This gale commenced in the afternoon, and blew 
very heavily all that night. The force of the wind increased,, 
little by little, until it began to tell seriously among the ship- 
ping, of which a great number were lying in front of the 
Rock. The second day of the gale, our ship was pitching 
bows under, sending the water aft to the taffrail, while many 
other craft struck adrift, or foundered at their anchors. The 
Coromandel had one chain cable, and this was out. It was 
the only cable we used for the first twenty-four hours. As 
the gale increased, however, it was thought necessary to let 
go the sheet-anchor, which had a hempen cable bent to it. 
Our chain, indeed, was said to be the first that was ever used 
out of Philadelphia, though it had then been in the ship for 
sometime, and had proved itself a faithful servant the vovaga 
14* 



162 NED MYERS; OR, 

before. Unfortunately, most of the chain was out before we 
let go the sheet-anchor, and there was no possibility of get- 
ting out a scope of the hempen cable. Dragging on shore, 
where we lay, was pretty much out of the question, as the 
bottom shelved inward, and the anchor, to come home, must 
have gone up hill.* 

In this manner the Coromandel rode for two nights and 
two days, the sea getting worse and worse, and the wind, it 
anything, rather increasing. We took the weight of the 
last in squalls, some of which were terrific. By this time 
the bay was well cleared of craft, nearly everything having 
sunk, or gone ashore. An English packet lay directly ahead 
of us, rather more than a cable's length distant, and she held 
on like ourselves. The Governor Brooks, of Boston, lay 
over nearer to Algesiras, where the sea and wind were a little 
broken, and, of course, she made better weather than our- 
selves. 

About eight o'clock, the third night, I was in the cabin, 
when the men on deck sung out that the chain had gone. 
At this time the ship had been pitching her spritsail-yard 
under water, and it blew a little hurricane. We were on 
deck in a moment, all hands paying out sheet. We brought 
the ship up with this cable, but not until she got it nearly to 
the better end. Unfortunately, we had got into shoal water, 
or what became shoal water by the depth of the troughs. It 
was said, afterwards, we were in five fathoms water at this 
time, but for this I will not vouch. It seems too much water 
for what happened. Our anchor, however, did actually lie 
in sixteen fathoms. 

We had hardly paid out the cable, before the ship came 
down upon the bottom, on an even keel, apparently, with a 
force that almost threw those on deck off their feet. These 
blows were repeated, from time to time, at intervals of sev- 
eral minutes, some of the thumps being much heavier than 

* A friend, who was then American Consul at Gibraltar, and an old 
navy officer, tells me Net is mistaken as to the nature of the anchor- 
age. The ship was a little too far out for the best holding ground. 
The same friend adds that the character of this gale is not at all over- 
charged, the vessels actually lost, including small craft of every descrip- 
tion, amounting to the every way extraordinary number of just three 
hundred and sixty-five. — Editor. 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 163 

Others. The English packet must have struck adrift at the 
same time with ourselves, for she came down upon us, let- 
ting go an anchor in a way to overlay our cable, I suppose 
the rocks and this sawing together, parted our hempen ca- 
ble, and away we went towards the shore, broadside-to. As 
the ship drifted in, she continued to thump; but, luckily for 
us, the sea made no breaches over her. The old Coroman- 
del was a very strong ship, and she continued working her 
way in-shore, until she lay in a good substantial berth, with- 
out any motion. We manned the pumps, and kept the ship 
tolerably free of water, though she lay over considerably. 
The English packet followed us in, going ashore more to- 
wards the Spanish lines. This vessel bilged, and lost some 
of her crew. As for ourselves, we had a comfortable berth, 
considering the manner in which we had got into it. No 
apprehension was felt for our personal safety, and perfect 
order was observed on board. The men worked as usual, 
nor was there any extra liquor drunk. 

That night the gale broke, and before morning it had 
materially moderated. Lighters were brought alongside, 
and we began to discharge our flour into them. The cargo 
was all discharged, and all in good order, so far as the wa- 
ter was concerned ; though several of the keelson bolts were 
driven into the ground tier of barrels. I am almost afraid 
to tell this story, but I know it to be true, as I released the 
barrels with my own hands. As soon as clear, the ship was 
nove off into deep water, on the top of a high tide, and was 
found to leak so much as to need a shore-gang at the pumps 
to keep her afloat. She was accordingly sold for the bene- 
fit of the underwriters. She was subsequently docked and 
sent to sea. 

Of course, this broke up our voyage. The captain ad- 
vised me to take a second-mate's berth in the Governor 
Brooks, the only American that escaped the gale, and I did 
so. This vessel was a brig, bound round the Horn, also, 
and a large, new craft. I know of no other vessel, that lay 
in front of the Rock that rode out this gale ; and she did it 
with two hempen cables out, partly protected, however, by 
a good berth. There was a Swede that came back next day 
to her anchorage, which was said to have got back-strapped, 
behind the Rock, by some legerdem.ain, and so escaped 



164 NED MYEKS; OR, 

also. I do not know how many lives were lost on liiis oc 
casion ; but the destruction of property must have oeen very 
great. 

Three weeks after the gale, the Governor Brooks sailed. 
We had a hard time in doubling the Cape, being a fortnight 
knocking about between Falkland and the Main. We were 
one hundred and forty-four days out, touching nowhere, un- 
til we anchored at Callao. We found flour, of which our 
cargo was composed, at seven dollars a barrel, with seven 
dollars duty. The Franklin 74, was lying here, with the 
Aurora English frigate, the castle being at war with the peo- 
ple inland. Our flour was landed, and what became of it 
is more than I can tell. 

We now took in ballast, and ran down to Guayaquil. 
Here an affair occurred that might very well have given me 
the most serious cause of regret, all the days of my life. 
Our steward was a Portuguese negro, of the most vicious 
Hnd surly temper. Most of the people and ofiicers were 
really afraid of him. One evening, the captain and chief 
mate being both ashore, I was sitting on deck, idle, and I 
took a fancy to a glass of grog. I ordered the steward, 
accordingly, to pour me out one, and bring it up. The man 
pretended that the captain had carried off the keys, and no 
rum was to be had. I thought this a little extraordinary ; 
and, as one would be very apt to be, felt much hurt at the 
circumstance. I had never been drunk in the craft, and 
was not a drunkard in one sense of the term, at ail ; sel- 
dom drinking so as to affect me, except when on a frolic, 
ashore. 

As I sat brooding over this fancied insult, however, I 
smelt rum ; and looking down the sky-light, saw this same 
steward passing forward with a pot filled with the liquor. I 
was fairly blinded with passion. Running down, I met il.e 
fellow, just as he was coming out of the cabin, and brought 
him up all standing. The man carried a knife along his 
leg, a weapon that had caused a good deal of uneasiness in 
the brig, and he now reached down to get it. Seeing there 
was no time to parley, I raised him from the floor, and threw 
him down with great force, his head coming under. There 
he lay like a log, and all my efforts with vinegar and watef 
had no visible effect. 



A LIFE BEFORE THE HAST. 165 

I now thought the man dead. He gave no sign of life 
that I could detect, and fear of the consequences came over 
me. The devil put it into my head to throw the body over- 
board, as the most effectual means of concealing what I had 
done. The steward had threatened to run, by swimming, 
more than once, and I believe had been detected in making 
such an attempt ; and I fancied if I could get the body 
through one of the cabin-windows, it would seem as if he 
had been drowned in carrying his project into execution. I 
tried all I could first to restore the steward to life ; but fail- 
ing of this, I actually began to drag him afl, in order to force 
his body out of a cabin-window. The transom was high, 
and the man very heavy ; so I was a good while in drag- 
ging the load up to the necessary height. Just as I got it 
there, the fellow gave a groan, and I felt a relief that I had 
never before experienced. It seemed to me like a reprieve 
from the gallows. 

I now took the steward down, upon one of the lower tran- 
soms, where he sat rubbing his head a {ew minutes, I watch- 
ing him closely the whole time. At length he got up, and 
staggered out of the cabin. He went and turned in, and I 
saw no more of him until next day. As it turned out, good, 
instead of harm, resulted from this affair ; the black being 
ever afterwards greatly afraid of me. If I did not break his 
neck, I broke his temper; and the captain used to threaten 
to set me at him, whenever he behaved amiss. I owned the 
whole affair to the captain and mate, both of whom laughed 
heartily at what had happened, though I rejoiced, in my 
inmost heart, that it was no worse. 

The brig loaded with cocao, in bulk, at Guayaquil, and 
sailed for Cadiz. The passage was a fine one, as we dou- 
bled the Horn at midsummer. On this occasion we beat 
round the cape, under top-gallant-sails. The weather was 
so fine, we stood close in to get the benefit of the currents, 
after tacking, as it seemed to me, within a league of the 
land. Our passage to Cadiz lasted one hundred and forty- 
one, or two, days, being nearly the same length as that out 
though much smoother. 

The French had just got possession of Cadiz, as we got 
in, and we found the white flag flying. We lay here a 
month, and then went round to the Rock. After passing a 



166 NED MYERS; OR, 

week at Gibraltar, to take in some dollars, we sailed ht 
New Orleans, in ballast. As I had been on twenty-two 
dollars a month, there was a pretty good whack coming lo 
me, as soon as v/e reached an American port, and I I'ell a 
desire to spend it, before I went to sea again. They wished 
me to stick by the brig, which was going the very same 
voyage over ; but I could not make up my mind to travel 
so long a road, with a pocket full of money. I had passed 
so many years at sea, that a short land cruise was getting 
to be grateful, as a novelty. 

The only craft I could get on boai-d of, to come round 
into my own latitude, in order to enjoy myself in the old 
way, was an eastern schooner, called the James. On board 
this vessel I shipped as mate, bound to Philadelphia. She 
was the most meagre craft, in the way of outfit, I ever put 
to sea in. Her boat would not swim, and she had not a 
spare spar on board her. In this style, we went jogging 
along north, until we were met by a north-west gale, be- 
tween Bermuda and Cape Hatteras, which forced us to 
heave-to. During this gale, I had a proof of the truth that 
" where the treasure is, there will the heart be also." 

I was standing leaning on the rail, and looking over the 
schooner's quarter, when 1 saw what I supposed to be a 
plank come up alongside 1 The idea of sailing in a craft of 
which the bottom was literally dropping out, was not very 
pleasant, and I thought all was lost. I cannot explain the 
folly of my conduct, except by supposing that my many 
escapes at sea, had brought me to imagine I was to be 
saved, myself, let what would happen to all the rest on 
board. Without stopping to reflect, I ran below and se- 
cured my dollars. Tearing up a blanket, I made a belt, 
and lashed about twenty-five pounds weight of silver to my 
body, with the prospect before me of swimming two or 
three hundred miles with it, before I could get ashore. As 
for boat, or spars, the former would not float, and of the 
last there was not one. I now look back on my acts of this 
day with wonder, for I had forgotten all my habitual know- 
ledge of vessels, in the desire to save the paltry dollars. 
For the first and only time in my life I felt avaricious, and 
lost sight of everything in money ! 

It was my duty to sound the pumps, but this I did nol 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 16? 

deem necessary. No sooner were the dollars secure, or, 
rather, ready to anchor me in the bottom of the ocean, than 
I remembered the captain. He was asleep, and waking 
him up, I told him what had happened. The old man, a 
dry, drawling, cool, downeaster, laughed in my face for my 
pains, telling me I had seen one of the sheeting-boards, with 
which he had had the bottom of the schooner covered, to 
protect it from the worms, at Campeachy, and that I need 
be under no concern about the schooner's bottom. This 
was the simple truth, and I cast off the dollars, again, with 
a sneaking consciousness of not having done my duty. I 
suppose all men have moments when they are not exactly 
themselves, in which they act very differently from what il 
has been their practice to act. On this occasion, I was not 
alarmed for myself, but I thought the course I took was ne- 
cessary to save that dross which lures so many to perdi 
tion. Avarice blinded me to the secrets of my own trade. 

I had come all the way from New Orleans to Philadel- 
phia, to spend my four hundred dollars to my satisfaction. 
For two months I lived respectably, and actually began to 
go to church. I did not live in a boarding-house, but in a 
private family. My landlady was a pious woman, and a 
member of the Dutch Reformed Church, but her husband 
was a Universalist. I must say, I liked the doctrine of the 
last the best, as it made smooth water for the whole cruise. 
I usually went with the man to church of a morning, which 
was falling among shoals, as a poor fellow was striving to 
get into port. I received a great deal of good advice from 
my landlady, however, and it made so much impression on 
me as to influence my conduct; though I cannot say it really 
touched my heart. I became more considerate, and better 
mannered, if I were not truly repentant for my sins. These 
two months were passed more rationally than any time of 
mine on shore, since the hour when I ran from the Sterling. 

The James was still lying in Philadelphia, undergoing 
repairs, and waiting for freight; but being now ready for 
sea, I shipped in her again, on a voyage to St. Thomas, 
with a cargo of flour. When we sailed, I left near a hun- 
dred dollars behind me, besides carrying some money to sea 
the good effects of good company. At St. Thomas we 
discharged, and took in ballast for Turk's Island, where we 



168 NED MYEKS; OR, 

got a cargo of salt, returning with it to Philadelphia. My 
conduct had been such on board this schooner, that her 
commander, who was her owner, and very old, having de- 
termined to knock ofT going to sea, tried to persuade me to 
stick by the craft, promising to make me her captain as soon 
as he could carry her down east, where she belonged. I 
now think I made a great mistake in not accepting this offer, 
though I was honestly diffident about my knowledge of navi- 
gation. I never had a clear understanding of the lunars, 
though I worked hard to master them. It is true, chrono- 
meters were coming into general use, in large vessels, and I 
could work the time ; but a chronometer was a thing never 
heard of on board the James. Attachment to the larger 
towns, and a dislike for Httle voyages, had as much influence 
on me as anything else. I declined the offer ; the only 
direct one ever made me to command any sort of craft, and 
remained what I am. I had a little contempt, too, for ves- 
sels of such a rig and outfit, which probably had its influence. 
I liked rich owners. 

On my return to Philadelphia, I found the family in which 
I had last lived much deranged by illness. I got my money, 
but was obliged to look for new lodgings. The respectable 
people with whom I had been before, did not keep lodgers, I 
being their only boarder; but I now went to a regular sail- 
or's boarding-house. There was a little aristocracy, it is 
true, in my new lodgings, to which none but mates, dickies, 
and thorough salts came ; but this was getting into the hur- 
ricane latitudes as to morals. I returned to all my old 
habits, throwing the dollars right and left, and forgetting all 
about even a Universalist church. 

A month cleaned me out, in such company. I spent 
every cent I had, with the exception of about fifteen dollars, 
that I had laid by as nest-eggs. I then shipped as second- 
mate, in the Rebecca Simms, a ship bound to St. Jago de 
Cuba, with flour. The voyage lasted four months ; pro- 
ducing nothing of moment, but a little affair that was per- 
sonal to myself, and which cost me nearly all my wages. 
The steward was a saucy black ; and, on one occasion, in 
bad weather, he neglected to give me anything warm for 
breakfast. I took an opportunity to give him a taste of the 
end of the main-clew-garnet, as an admonisher ; and there 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 169 

tiiQ matter ended, so long as I remained in the ship. Ii 
seemed quite right, to all on board, but the steward. He 
bore the matter in mind, and set a whole pack of quakers oq 
me, as soon as we got in. The suit was tried ; and it cost 
me sixty dollars, in damages, beside legal charges. I dare 
say it was all right, according to law and evidence ; but I 
feel certain, just such a rubbing down, once a week, would 
have been very useful to that same steward. Well-meaning 
men often do quite as much harm, in this world, as the evil- 
disposed. Philanthropists of this school should not forget, 
that, if colour is no sufficient reason why a man should be 
always wrong, it is no sufficient reason why he should be 
always right. 

The lawsuit drove me to sea, again, in a very short time. 
Finding no better berth, and feeling very savage at the 
blindness of justice, I shipped before the mast, in the Supe- 
rior, an Indiaman, of quite eight hundred tons, bound to 
Canton. This was the pleasantest voyage I ever made to 
sea, in a merchantman, so far as the weather, and, I may 
say, usage, were concerned. We lost our top-gallant-masts, 
homeward bound ; but this was the only accident that oc- 
curred. The ship was gone nine months ; the passage from 
Whampao to the capes having been made in ninety-four 
days. When we got in, the ovvn&rs had failed, and there 
was no money forthcoming, at the moment. To remain, 
and libel the ship, was dull business ; so, leaving a power of 
attorney behind me, I went on board a schooner, called the 
Sophia, bound to Vera Cruz, as foremast Jack. 

The Sophia was a clipper ; and made the run out in a few 
days. We went into Vera Cruz ; but found it nearly de- 
serted. Our cargo went ashore a little irregularly ; some- 
times by day, and sometimes by night ; being assorted, and 
suited to all classes of customers. As soon as ready, we 
sailed for Philadelphia, again ; where we arrived, after an 
absence of only two mouths. 

I now got my wages for the Canton voyage ; but they 
lasted me only a fortnight ! It was necessary to go to sea, 
again ; and I went on board the Caledonia ; once more 
bound to Canton. This voyage lasted eleven months ; but, 
like most China voyages, produced no event of importance. 
We lost our top-gallant-masts, this time, too ; but that is 
15 



170 NED MVERS; OR, 

nothing unusual, off Good Hope. I can say but little, in 
favour of the ship, or the treatment. 

On getting back to Philadelphia, the money went in the 
old way. I occasionally walked round to see my good re- 
ligious friends, with whom I had once lived, but they ceased 
to have any great influence over my conduct. As soon as 
necessary, I shipped in the Delaware, a vessel bound to Sa- 
vannah and Liverpool. Southern fashion, I ran from this 
vessel in Savannah, owing her nothing, however, but was 
obliged to leave my protection behind, as it was in the cap- 
tain's hands. I cannot give any reason but caprice for 
quitting this ship. The usage was excellent, and the wages 
high ; yet run I did. As long as the Delaware remained m 
port, I kept stowed away ; but, as soon as she sailed, I 
came out into the world, and walked about the wharves as 
big as an owner. 

I now went on board a ship called the Tobacco Plant, 
bound to Liverpool and Philadelphia, for two dollars a month 
less wages, worse treatment, and no grog. So much fox 
following the fashion. The voyage produced nothing to be 
mentioned. 

On my return to Philadelphia, I resolved to shift my 
ground, and try a new tack. I was now thirty-four, and 
began to give up all thoughts of getting a lift in my profes- 
sion. I had got so many stern-boards on me, every time I 
was going ahead, and was so completely alone in the world, 
that I had become indifferent, and had made up my mind to 
take things as they offered. As for money, my rule had 
come to be, to spend it as I got it, and go to sea for more. 
" If I tumbled overboard," I said to myself, " there is none 
to cry over me ;" therefore let things jog on their own 
course. All the disposition to morality that had been 
aroused within me, at Philadelphia, was completely gone, 
and I thought as little of church and of religion, as ever. 
It is true I had bought a Bible on board the Superior, and 
I was in the practice of reading in it, from time to time, 
though it was only the narratives, such as those of Sampson 
and Goliah, that formed any interest for me. The history 
of Jonah and the whale, I read at least twenty times, i 
cannot remember that the morality, or thought, or devotion 
of a single passage ever struck me on these occasions. In a 



A lilFE BEFORE THE MAST. 171 

word, I read this sacred book for amusement, and not foi 
light. 

1 now wanted change, and began to think of going back 
to the navy, by way of novelty. I had been round the 
world once, had been to Canton five times, doubling the 
Cape, round the Horn twice, to Batavia once, the West- 
Indies, on the Spanish main, and had crossed the Atlantic 
so often, that I thought I knew all the mile-stones. I had 
seen but httle of the Mediterranean, and fancied a man-of- 
war's cruise would show me those seas. Most of the Tobacco 
Plants had shipped in Philadelphia, and I determined to go 
with ihem, to go in the navy. There is a fashion in all 
things, and just then it was the fashion to enter in the service. 

I was shipped by Lieutenant M'Kean, now Commander 
M'Kean, a grandson of the old Governor of Pennsylvania, 
as they tell me. All hands of us were sent on board the 
Cyane, an English prize twenty-gun ship, where we remain- 
ed about six weeks. A draft was then made, and more 
than a hundred of us were sent round to Norfolk, in a sloop, 
to join the Delaware, 80, then fitting out for the Mediterra- 
nean. We found the ship lying alongside the Navy-yard 
wharf, and after passing one night in the receiving-ship, 
were sent on board the two-decker. The Delaware soon 
hauled out, and was turned over to Captain Downes, the 
very officer who had almost persuaded me to go in that ill- 
fated brig, the Epervier. 

I was stationed on the Delaware's forecastle, and was 
soon ordered to do second captain's duty. We had for 
lieutenants on board, Mr. Ramage, first, Messrs. William- 
son, Ten Eick, Shubrick, Byrne, Chauncey, Harris, and 
several whose names I have forgotten. Mr. Ramage has 
since been cashiered, I understand ; and Messrs. Ten Eick, 
Shubrick, Chauncey, ^arris, and Byrne, are now all com- 
manders. 

The ship sailed in the winter of 1828, in the month of 
January I think, having on board the Prince of Musignano, 
and his family, who were going to Italy. This gentleman 
was Charles Bonaparte, eldest son of Lucien, Prince of 
Canine, they tell me, and is now Prince of Canino himself. 
He had been living some time in America, and got a pas- 
sage in our ship, on account of the difiiculfy oi' Iravel'ing in 



1 7XJ NED iM V JS 11 s ; O K , 

Europe, for one of his name aud family. Ho was the fira^ 

ard <^nly Priaoo I ever had for a shipmate. 



CHAPTER XV. 

Opr passage out in the Delaware was very rough, the 
ship rot.bg heavily. It was the lirst time she had been at 
sea, and t required some little time to get her trim aud sail- 
ing. Sht> turned out, however, to he a good vessel; sailing 
fairly, stewing well, and proving an excellent sea-boat. We 
w^nt into \lgesiras, where we lay only twenty-lour liours. 
We th<ni sttiled lor fthdion, hut were met by orders oli' the 
port, 10 p/oeeed to Leghorn and land our passengers. I 
have Leer, told this was done on aecount of the Princess of 
]\lusignnnvy's being a daughter of the ex-King of Spain, and 
it was no. thought delicate to bring her within tiie territory 
of the ro^^uing king. 1 have even heard that the commo- 
dore was olfered an order of knighthood for the delicacy ho 
manifested on this occasion, which otler he declined accept- 
ing, as fw matter of course. 

The ^hip had a good run from otf JMahon to Leghorn 
where we anchored in the outer roads. We landed the pas 
peugers. the atternoou oi' the day we arrived. That verj 
night i\ came on to blow heavily Irom the northward and 
eastward, or a little otf shore, according to the best of my 
recollection. This was the tirst time I ever saw preparation? 
made vo send down lower yards, and to house top-masts — 
merchantmen not being strong-handed enough to cut such 
caperj with their sticks. We had three anchors ahead, if 
not fiui", the ship labouring a good deal. We lost one man 
from the starboard forechains, by his getting caught in the 
buoy-rope, as we let go a sheet-anchor. The poor fellow 
could not be picked up, on account of the sea and the dark- 
ness of the night, though an attempt was made to save him. 

The next day the weather moderated a little, and we gx)t 
under way for Mahon. Our passage down was pleasant, 
nnd this time we went in. Captain Downes now lell us, and 



A L,IFE BEFOIli: THE MAST. 173 

Commodore Crane hoisted his broad-pennant on board us. 
The ship now lay a long time in port. The commodore 
went aloft in one of the sloops, and was absent several 
months. 1 was told he was employed in making a treaty 
with the Turks, but us poor Jacks knew little of such mat- 
ters. On his return, there was a regular blow-up witii the 
first-lieutenant, who left the ship, to nobody's regret, so far 
as I know. Mr. Mix, who had led our party to the lakes in 
1812, and was with us in all my lake service, and who was 
Mr. Osgood's brother-in-law, now joined us as first-lieute- 
nant. 1 had got to be first-captain of the forecastle, a berth 
I held to the end of the cruise. 

The treatment on board this ship was excellent. The 
happiest time I ever spent at sea, was in the Di.laware. Af- 
ter Mr. Mix took Mr. Ramage's place, everybody seemed 
contented, and I never knew a better satisfied ship's com- 
pany. The third year out, we had a long cruise off Cape 
de Gattc, keeping the ship under her canvass quite three 
months. We took in supplies at sea, the object being to 
keep us from getting rusty. On the fourth of July we had 
a regular holiday. At four in the morning, the ship was 
close in under the north shore, and we wore off the land. 
Sail was then shortened. After this, we had music, and 
more saluting and grog. The day was passed merrily, and 
1 do not remember a fight, or a black eye, in the ship. 

I volunteered to go one cruise in the Warren, under Mr. 
Byrne. The present Commodore Kearny commanded this 
ship, and he took us down to the Rock. The reason of our 
volunteering was this. The men-of-war of the Dutch and 
the French, rendezvoused at Mahon, as well as ourselves. 
The French and our people had several rows ashore. 
Which was right and which wrong, I cannot say, as it was 
the Java's men, and hot the Delaware's, that were engaged 
in them, on our side. One of the Javas was run through 
the body, and a French ofiicer got killed. It was said the 
French suspected us of a design of sending away the man 
who killed their officer, and meant to stop the Warren, which 
was bound to the Rock on duty. All I know is, that two 
French brigs anchored at the mouth of the harbour, and 
some of us were called on to volunteer. Forty-five of us 
did so, and went on board the sloop. 
15* 



174 NED MYERS; OR, 

After the Warren got under way, we went to quarters, 
manning both batteries. In this mariner we stood down 
between the two French brigs, with top-gallant-sails furled 
and the courses in the brails. We passed directly between 
the two brigs, keeping a broadside trained upon each ; but 
nothing was said, or done, to us. We anchored first at the 
Rock, but next day crossed over to the Spanish coast. In 
a short time we returned to Mahon, and we volunteers went 
back to the Delaware. The two brigs had gone, but there 
was still a considerable French force in port. Nothing came 
of the difficulty, however, so far as I could see or hear. 

In the season of 1830, the Constellation, Commodore Bia- 
dle, came out, and our ship and Commodore were relieved. 
We had a run up as far as Sicily, however, before this took 
place, and went off Tripoli. There I saw a wreck, lying 
across the bay, that they told me was the bones of the Phi- 
ladelphia frigate. We were also at Leghorn, several weeks, 
the commodore going to some baths in the neighbourhood, 
for his health. 

Among other ports, the Delaware visited Carthagena, 
Malta, and Syracuse. At the latter place, the ship lay six 
weeks, I should think. This was the season of our arrival 
out. Here we underwent a course of severe exercise, that 
brought the ci-ew up to a high state of discipline. At four 
in the morning, we wouW turn out, and commence our work. 
All the manoeuvres of unmooring, making sail, reefing, furl- 
ing, and packing on her again, were gone through, until the 
people got so much accustomed to work together, the great 
secret of the efficiency of a man-of-war, that the officer of 
the deck was forced to sing out " belay 1" before the yards 
were up by a foot, lest the men should spring the spars. 
When we got through this drill, the commodore told us we 
would do, and that he was not ashamed to show us along- 
side of anything that floated. I do not pretend to give our 
movements in the order in which they occurred,. however, 
nor am I quite certain what year it was the commodore 
went up to Smyrna. On reflection, it may have been later 
than I have stated. 

Our cruise off Cape de Gatte was one of the last things 
we did ; and when we came back to Mahon, we took in sup- 
plies for America. We made the southern passage home^ 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 175 

ind anchored in Hampton Roads, in the winter of 1831. 
I beheve the whole crew of the Delaware was sorry when 
the cruise was up. There are always a certain number of 
'long-shore chaps in a man-of-war, who are never satisfied 
with discipline, and the wholesome restraints of a ship ; but 
as for us old salts, I never heard one give the Delaware a 
bad name. We had heard an awful report of the commo- 
dore, who was called a " burster," and expected sharp times 
under him ; and his manner of taking possession was of a 
nature to alarm us. All hands had been called to receive 
him, and the first words he said were " Call all hands to 
witness punishment." A pin might have been heard falling 
among us, for this sounded ominous. It was to clear the 
brig, only, Captain Downes having left three men in it, 
whom he would not release on quitting the vessel. The 
offences were serious, and could not be overlooked. These 
three chaps got it ; but there was only one other man brought 
regularly to the gangway while I was in the ship, and he 
was under the sentence of a court, and belonged to the War- 
ren, As soon as the brig was cleared, the commodore told 
us we should be treated as we treated others, and then turned 
away among the officers. The next day we found we were 
to live under a just rule, and that satisfied us. One of the 
great causes of the contentment that reigned in the ship, was 
the method, and the regularity of the hours observed. The 
men knew on what they could calculate, in ordinary times, 
and this left them their own masters within certain hours. 
I repeat, she was the happiest ship I ever served in, though 
I have always found good treatment in the navy. 

I can say conscientiously, that were my life to be passed 
over again, without the hope of commanding a vessel, it 
should be passed in the navy. The food is better, the ser- 
vice is lighter, the treatment is better, if a man behave him- 
self at all well, he is better cared for, has a port under his 
lee in case of accidents, and gets good, steady, wages, with 
the certainty of being paid. If his ship is lost, his wages 
are safe ; and if he gets hurt, he is pensioned. Then he is 
pretty certain of having gentlemen over him, and that is a 
great deal for any man. He has good quarters below ; and 
if he serve in a ship as large as a frigate, he has a cover 
over his head, half the time, at least, in bad weather. This 



176 NED MYERS; OR, 

is the honest opinion of one who has served in all sorts of 
crafts, liners, Indiamen, coasters, smugglers, whalers, and 
transient ships. I have been in a ship of the line, two fri- 
gates, three sloops of war, and several smaller craft ; and 
such is the result of all my experience in Uncle Sam's navy. 
No man can go to sea and always meet with fail -weather , 
but he will get as little of foul in one of our vessels of war, 
as in any craft that floats, if a man only behave himself. I 
think the American merchantmen give better wages than 
are to be found in other services ; and I think the American 
men-of-war, as a rule, give better treatment than the Amer- 
ican merchantman. God bless the flag, I say, and this, too, 
without the fear of being hanged ! 

- The Delaware lay two or three weeks in the Roads be- 
fore she went up to the Yard. At the latter place we began 
to strip the ship. While thus employed, we were told that 
seventy-five of us, whose times were not quite out, were to 
be drafted for the Brandywine 44, then fitting out at New 
York, for a short cruise in the Gull'. This was bad news, 
for Jack likes a swing ashore after a long service abroad. 
Go we must, and did, however. We were sent round to 
New York in a schooner, and found the frigate still lying at 
the Yard. We were hulked on board the Hudson until she 
was ready to receive us, when we were sent to our new ves- 
sel. Captain Ballard commanded the Brandywine, and 
among her lieutenants, Mr. M'Kenny was the first. This 
is a fine ship, and she got her name from the battle in 
which La Fayette was wounded in this country, having 
been first fitted out to carry him to France, after his last 
visit to America. She is a first-class frigate, mounting 
thirty long thirty-two's on her gun-deck ; and I conceive it 
to be some honour to a sailor to have it in his power to say 
he has been captain of the forecastle in such a ship, for I 
was rated in this frigate the same as I had been rated in the 
Delaware ; with this difference, that, for my service in the 
Brandywine, I received my regular eighteen dollars a month 
as a petty officer ; whereas, though actually captain of the 
Delaware's forecastle for quite two years, and second-captain 
nearly all the rest of the time I was in the ship, I never got 
more than seaman's wages, or twelve dollars a month. I 
do not know how this happened, though I supposed it *^o 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 177 

have arisen from some mistake connected with the ciicum- 
stance that I was paid off for my services in the Delaware, 
by the purser of the frigate. This was in consequence of 
he transfer. 

The Brandy wine sailed in March for the Gulf. Our cruise 
lasted about five months, during which time we went to Vera 
Cruz, Pensacola, and the Havana. We appeared to me to 
be a single ship, as we were never in squadron, and saw no 
broad-pennant. No accident happened, the cruise being 
altogether pleasant. The ship returned to Norfolk, and 
twenty -five of us, principally old Delawares, were dis- 
charged, our times being out. We all of us intended to 
return to the frigate, after a cruise ashore, and we chartered a 
schooner to carry us to Philadelphia in a body, determining 
not to part company. 

The morning the schooner sailed, I was leading the whole 
party along one of the streets of Norfolk, when I saw some- 
thing white lying in the middle of the carriage-wav. It 
turned out to be an old messmate, Jack Dove, who had been 
discharged three days before, and had left us to go to Phila- 
delphia, but had been brought up by King Grog. While we 
were overhauling the poor fellow, who could not speak, his 
landlady came out to us, and told us that he had eat nothing 
for three days, and did nothing but drink. She begged us 
to take care of him, as he disregarded all she said. This 
honest woman gave us Jack's wages to a cent, for I knew 
what they had come to ; and we made a collection of ten 
dollars for her, calculating that Jack must have swallowed 
that much in three days. Jack we took with us, bag and 
hammock ; but he would eat nothing on the passage, calling 
out constantly for drink. We gave him liquor, thinking it 
would do him good ; but he grew worse, and, when we 
reached Philadelphia, Tie was sent to the hospital. Here, in 
the course of a few days, he died. 

Never, in all my folly and excesses, did I give myself so 
much up to drink, as when I reached Philadelphia this time. 
] was not quite as bad as Jack Dove, but I soon lost my 
appetite, living principally on liquor. When we heard of 
Jack's death, we proposed among ourselves to give him a 
sailor's funeral. We turned out, accordingly, to the number 
~if a hundred, or more, in blue jackets and white trowsers, 



178 NED MYERS; OR, 

and marched up to the hospital in a body. I was one of the 
leaders in this arrangement, and felt much interest in it, as 
Jaclc had been my messmate ; but, the instant I saw his 
coffin, a fit of the " horrors" came over me, and I actually 
left the place, running down street towards the river, as if 
Dursued by devils. Luckily, I stopped to rest on the stoop 
of a druggist. The worthy man took me in, gave me some 
soda water, and some good advice. When a little strength- 
ened, I made my way home, but gave up at the door. Then 
followed a severe indisposition, which kept me in bed for a 
fortnight, during which I suffered the torments of the damned. 

I have had two or three visits from the " horrors," in the 
course of my life, but nothing to equal this attack. I came 
near following Jack Dove to the grave ; but God, in His 
mercy, spared me from such an end. It is not possible for 
one who has never experienced the effects of his excesses, in 
this particular form, to get any correct notions of the sufTer- 
mgs I endured. Among other conceits, I thought the colour 
which the tar usually leaves on seamen's nails, was the sign 
that I had the yellow fever. This idea haunted me for days, 
and gave me great uneasiness. In short, I was like a man 
suspended over a yawning chasm, expecting, every instant, 
ro fall and be dashed to pieces, and yet, who could not die. 

For some time after my recovery, I could not bear the 
smell of liquor ; but evil companions lured me back to my 
old habits. I was soon in a bad way again, and it was only 
owing to the necessity of going to sea, that I had not a 
return of the dreadful malady. When I shipped in the 
Delaware, I had left my watch, quadrant, and good clothes, 
to the value of near two hundred dollars, with my present 
landlord, and he now restored them all to me, safe and 
sound. I made considerable additions to the stock of clothes, 
and when I again went to sea, left the whole, and more, with 
the same landlord. 

Our plan of going back to the Brandywine was altered by 
circumstances ; and a party of us shipped in the Mononga- 
hela, a Liverpool liner, out of Philadelphia. The cabin of 
this vessel was taken by two gentlemen, going to visit 
Europe, viz. : Mr. Hare Powell and Mr. Edward Burd ; and 
getting these passengers, with their families, on board, the 
ship sailed. By this time, I had pretty much given up the 



A tilFE BEFORE THE MAST. 179 

nope of preferment, and did not trouble myself whether 1 
lived forward or aft. I joined the Monongahela as a forward 
hand, therefore, quite as well satisfied as if her chief mate. 
We left the Delaware in the month of August, and, a 
short time out, encountered one of the heaviest gales of wind 
I ever witnessed at sea. It came on from the eastward, and 
would have driven us ashore, had not the wind suddenly 
shifted to south-west. The ship was lying-to, under bare 
poles, pressed down upon the water in such a way that she 
lay almost as steady as if in a river ; nor did the force of 
the wind 'allow the sea to get up. A part of the time, our 
lee lower yard-arms were nearly in the water. We had 
everything aloft, but sending them down was quite out of 
the question. It was not possible, at one time, for a man to 
go aloft at all. I tried it myself, and could with difficulty 
keep my feet on the ratlins. I make no doubt I should have 
been blown out of the top, could I have reached it, did I let 
go my hold to do any work. 

We had sailed in company with the Kensington, a corvcii,.- 
belonging to the Emperor of Russia, and saw a ship, during 
the gale, that was said to be she. The Kensington was dis- 
masted, and had to return to refit, but we did not part a 
rope-yarn. When the wind shifl:ed, we were on soundings ; 
and, it still continuing to blow a gale, we set the main-top- 
sail close-reefed, and the fore-sail, and shoved the vessel ofi 
the land at the rate of a steam-boat. After this, the wind 
favoured us, and our passage out was very short. We 
stayed but a few days in Liverpool ; took in passengers, and 
got back to Philadelphia, after an absence of a little more 
than two months. The Kensington's report of the gale, and 
of our situation, had caused much uneasiness in Philadel- 
phia, but our two passages were so short, that we brought 
the news of our safety. 

I now inquired for the Brandywine, but found she had 
sailed for the Mediterranean. It was my intention to have 
gone on board her, but missing this ship, and a set of offi- 
cers that I knew, I looked out for a merchantman. I found 
a brig called the Amelia, bound to Bordeaux, and shipped 
in her before the mast. 

The Amelia had a bad passage out. It was in the au- 
tumn, and the brig leaked badly. This kept us a great 



180 NED MYERS; OR, 

deal at the pumps, an occupation that a sailor does ciny- 
thing but delight in. I am of opinion that pumping a leaky 
ship is the most detestable work in the world. Nothing bui 
the dread of drowning ought to make a man do it, although 
some men will pump to save their property. As for myself, 
I am not certain I would take twenty-four hours of hard 
pumping to save any sum 1 shall probably ever own, or evei 
did own. 

After a long passage, we made the Cordovan, but, the 
wind blowing heavy off the land, we could not get in for 
near a fortnight. Not a pilot would come out, and if they 
had, it would have done us no good. After a while, the 
wind shifted, and we got into the river, and up to the town. 
We took in a return cargo of brandy, and sailed for Phila- 
delphia. Our homeward-bound passage was long and 
stormy, but we made the capes, at last. Here we were 
boarded by a pilot, who told us we were too late ; the Dela- 
ware had frozen up, and we had to keep away, with a 
south-east wind, for New York. We had a bad time of it, 
as soon as night came on. The gale increased, blowing 
directly into the bight, and we had to haul up under close- 
reefed topsails and reefed foresail, to claw off the land. 
The weather was very thick, and the night dark, and all 
we could do was to get round, when the land gave us a 
hint it was time. This we generally did in five fathoms 
water. We had to ware, for the brig would not tack under 
such short canvass, and, of course, lost much ground in so 
doing. About three in the morning we knew that it was 
nearly up with us. The soundings gave warning of this, 
and we got round, on what I supposed would be the Amelia's 
last leg. But Providence took care of us, when we could 
not help ourselves. The wind came out at north-west, as 
it might be by word of command ; the mist cleared up, and 
we saw the lights, for the first time, close aboard us. The 
brig was taken aback, but we got her round, shortened sail. 
and hove her to, under a closed-reefed main-topsail. We 
now got it from the north-west, making very bad weather. 
The gale must have set us a long way to leeward, as we 
did not get in for a fortnight. We shipped a heavy sea, 
that stove our boat, and almost swept the decks. We were- 
out of pork and beef, and our fire-wood was nearly gone. 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 181 

The binnacle was also gone. As good luck would have it, 
we killed a porpoise, soon after the wind shifted, and on 
this we lived, in a great measure, for more than a week, 
sometimes cooking it, but oftener eating it raw. At length 
the wind shifted, and we got in. 

I was no sooner out of this difficulty, than a hasty temper 
got me into another. While still in the stream, an Irish 

boatman called me a "Yankee son of a ," and I lent 

him a clip. The fellow sued me, and, contriving to catch 
me before I left the vessel, I was sent to jail, for the iirst and 
only time in my life. This turned out to be a new and very 
revolting school for me. I was sent among as precious a 
set of rascals as New York could furnish. Their conversa- 
tion was very edifying. One would tell how he cut the 
hoses of the engines at fires, with razor-blades fastened to 
his shoes ; another, how many pocket-books he and his 
associates had taken at this or that fire ; and a third, the 
manner of breaking open stores, and the best mode of dis- 
posing of stolen goods. The cool, open, impudent manner 
in which these fellows spoke of such transactions, fairly 
astounded me. They must have thought I was in jail for 
some crime similar to their own, or they would not have 
talked so freely before a stranger. These chaps seemed to 
value a man by the enormity and number of his crimes. 

At length the captain and my landlord found out where I 
had been sent, and I was immediately bailed. Glad enough 
was I to get out of prison, and still more so to get out of the 
company I found in it. Such association is enough to under- 
mine the morals of a saint, in a week or two. And yet these 
fellows were well dressed, and well enough looking, and 
might very well pass for a sort of gentlemen, with those who 
had seen but little of men of the true quality. 

I had got enough of law, and wished to push the matter 
no farther. The Irishman was sent for, and I compromised 
with him on the spot. The whole affair cost me my entire 
wages, and I was bound over to keep the peace, for, I do not 
know how long. This scrape compelled me to weigh my 
anchor at a short notice, as there is no living in New York 
without money. I went on board the Sully, therefore — a 
Havre liner — a day or two after getting out of the atmo- 
sphere of the City Hall. They may talk of Batavia, if they 
16 



182 NED MYERS; OR, 

please ; but, in my judgment, it is the healthiest place of th6 
two. 

Our passages, out and home, produced nothing worth 
mentioning, and I left the ship in New York, My wages 
went in the old way, and then I shipped in a schooner called 
the Susan and Mary, that was about to sail for Buenos Ayres, 
in the expectation that she would be sold there. The craft 
was a good one, though our passage out was very long. On 
reaching our port, I took my discharge, under the impression 
the vessel would be sold. A notion now came over me, that 
I would join the Buenos Ayrean navy, in order to see what 
sort of a service it was. I knew it was admixed American 
and English affair, and, by this time, I had become very 
reckless as to my own fate. I wished to do nothing very 
wrong, but was incapable of doing anything that was very 
right. 

My windfall carried me on board a schooner, of eight or 
ten guns, called the Suradaha. I did not ship, making an 
arrangement by which 1 was to be left to decide for myself, 
whether I would remain in her, or not. Although a pretty 
good craft, I soon got enough of this service. In one week 
I was thoroughly disgusted, and left the schooner. It is well 
I did, as there was a " revolution''' on board of her, a few 
days later, and she was carried up the river, and, as I was 
told, was there sunk. With her, sunk all my laurels in that 
service. 

The Susan and Mary was not sold, but took in hides for 
New York. I returned to her, therefore, and we sailed for 
home in due time. The passage proved long, but mild, and 
we were compelled to run in, off Point Petre, Gaudaloupe, 
where we took in some provisions. After this, nothing oc- 
curred until we reached New York. 

I iiow shifted the name of my craft, end for end, joining 
a half-rigged brig, called the Mary and Susan. I gained 
little by the change, this vessel being just the worst-looking 
hooker I did ever sail in. Still she was tight, strong enough, 
and not a very bad sailing vessel. But, for some reasoji 
or other, externals were not regarded, and we made any- 
thing but a holiday appearance on the water. I had seen 
ihe time when I would disdain to go chief-mate of such 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 183 

a looking craft ; but I now shipped in hei' as a common 
hand. 

We sailed for Para, in Brazil, a port nearly under the 
line, having gunpowder, dry-goods, &c. Our passage, un- 
til we came near the coast of South America, was go^d, and 
nothing occurred to mention. When under the line, how- 
ever, we made a rakish-looking schooner, carrying two top- 
sails, one forenoon. We made no effort to escape, knowing 
it to be iseless. The schooner set a Spanish ensign, and 
brought us to. We were ordered to lower our boat and to 
go on board the schooner, which were done, I happened 
to be at the helm, and remained in the Mary and Susan. 
The strangers ordered our people out of the boat, and sent 
an armed party in her, on board us. These men rummaged 
about for a short time, and then were hailed from their ves' 
sel to know if we promised well. Our looks deceived the 
head man of the boarders, who answered that we were very 
poor. On receiving this information, the captain of the 
schooner ordered his boarding party to quit us. Our boat 
came back, but was ordered to return and bring another 
gang of the strangers. This time we were questioned about 
canvass, but got off by concealing the truth. We had thirty 
bolts on board, but produced only one. The bolt shown did 
not happen to suit, and the strangers again left us. We 
were told not to make sail until we received notice by signal, 
and the schooner hauled her wind. After standing on some 
time, however, these gentry seemed indisposed to quit us, 
for they came down again, and rounded to on our weather- 
beam. We were now questioned about our longitude, and 
whether we had a chronometer. We gave the former, but 
had nothing like the latter on board. Telling us once more 
not to make sail without the signal, the schooner left us, 
standing on until fairly out of sight. We waited until she 
sunk her topsails, and then went on our course. 

None of us doubted that this fellow was a pirate. The 
men on board us were an ill-looking set of rascals, of all 
countries. They spoke Spanish, but we gave them credit 
for being a mixture. Our escape was probably owing to 
our appearance, which promised anything but' a rich booty. 
Our dry-goods and powder were concealed in casks under 
the ballast, and I suppose the papers were not particularly 



184 NEDMyERS;OR, 

minute. At any rate, when we got into Para, most of the 
cargo went out of our schooner privately, being landed 
from lighters. We had a passenger, who passed fcr some 
revolutionary man, who also landed secretly. This gen- 
tleman was in a good deal of concern about the pirates,, 
keeping himself hid while they were near us. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Our passage from Para was good until the brig reached 
the latitude of Bermuda. Here, one morning, for the first 
time in this craft, Sundays excepted, we got a forenoon 
watch below. I was profiting by the opportunity to do a lit- 
tle work for myself, when the mate, an inexperienced young 
man, who was connected with the owners, came and ordered 
us up to help jibe ship. It was easy enough to do this in 
the watch, but he thought differently. As an old seaman, 
I do not hesitate to say that the order was both inconsiderate 
and unnecessary ; though I do not wish to appear even to 
justify my own conduct, on the occasion. A hasty temper 
is one of my besetting weaknesses, and, at that time, I was 
in no degree influenced by any considerations of a moral 
nature, as connected with language. Exceedingly exaspe- 
rated at this interference with our comfort, I did not hesitate 
to tell the mate my opinion of his order. Warming with 
my own complaints, I soon became fearfully profane and 
denunciatory. I called down curses on the brig, and all 
that belonged to her, not hesitating about wishing that she 
might founder at sea, and carry all hands of us to the bot- 
tom of the ocean. In a word, I indulged in all that loose 
ness and profanity of the tongue, which is common enough 
with those who feel no restraints on the subject, and whr 
are highly exasperated. 

• I do think the extent to which I carried my curses ao'\ 
wishes, on this occasion, frightened the officers. They sa>d 
nothing, but let me curse myself out, to my heart's content, 
A man soon wearies of so bootless a task, and the storm 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 185 

passed off, like one in the heavens, with a low rumbling. 1 
gave myself no concern about the matter afterwards, but 
things took their course until noon. While the people were 
at dinner, the mate came forward again, howevei*, and called 
all hands to shorten sail. Going on deck, I saw a very 
menacing black cloud astern, and went to work, with a will, 
to discharge a duty that everybody could see was necessary. 

We gathered m me canvass as fast as we could ; but, be- 
fore we could get through, and while I was lending a hand 
to furl the foresail, the squall struck the brig. I call it a 
squall, but it was more like the tail of a hurricane. * Most 
of our canvass blew from the gaskets, the cloth going in 
ribands. The foresail and fore-topsail we managed to save, 
but all our light canvass went. I was still aloft when the 
brig broached-to. As she came up to the wind, the fore- 
topmast went over to leeward, being carried away at the 
cap. All the hamper came down, and began to thresh 
against the larboard side of the lower rigging. Just at this 
instant, a sea seemed to strike the brig under her bilge, and 
fairly throw her on her beam-ends. 

All this appeared to me to be the work of only a minute. 
I had scrambled to windward, to get out of the way of the 
wreck, and stood with one foot on the upper side of the bitts, 
holding on, to steady myself, by some of the running rig. 
ging. This was being in a very different attitude, but on 
the precise spot, where, two or three hours before, I had 
called on the Almighty to pour out his vials of wrath upon 
the vessel, myself, and all she contained I At that fearful 
instant, conscience pricked me, and I felt both shame and 
dread, at my recent language. It seemed to me as if I had 
been heard, and that my impious prayers were about to be 
granted. In the bitterness of my heart, I vowed, should my 
life be spared, never to be guilty of such gross profanity, 
again. 

These feelings, however, occupied me but a moment. I 
was too much of a real sea-dog to be standing idle at a time 
like that. There was but one man before the mast on whom 
I could call for anything in such a strait, and that was a 
New Yorker, of the name of Jack Neal. This man was 
near me, and I suggested to him the plan of getting the fore- 
^op-mast staysail loose, notwithstandmg the mast v/as gone 



186 * NEDMYERS;OR 

m the hope it might blow open, and help the brig's bowa 
round. Jack was a fellow to act, and he succeeded in loos- 
ening the sail, which did blow out in a way greatly to help 
us, as 1 think. I then proposed we should clamber aft, and 
try to get the helm up. This we did, also ; though I ques- 
tion if the rudder could have had much power, in the posi- 
tion in which the brig lay. 

Either owing to the fore-top-mast staysail, or to some 
providential sea, the vessel did fall off, however, and pre- 
sently she righted, coming up with great force, with a heavy 
roll to windward. The staysail helped us, I feel persuaded, 
is the stay had got taut in the wreck, and the wind had 
blown out the hanks. The brig's helm being hard up, as 
soon as she got way, the craft flew round like a top, coming 
up on the other tack, in spite of us, and throwing her nearly 
over again. She did not come fairly down, however, though 
1 thought she was gone, for an instant. 

Finding it possible to move, I now ran forward, and suc- 
ceeded in stopping the wreck into the rigging and bitts. At 
this time the brig minded her helm, and fell off, coming under 
command. To help us, the head of the spencer got loose, 
from the throat-brail up, and, blowing out against the wreck, 
the whole formed, together, a body of hamper, that acted as 
a sort of sail, which helped the brig to keep clear of the 
seas. By close attention to the helm, we were enabled to 
prevent the vessel from broaching-to again, and, of course, 
managed to sail her on her bottom. About sunset, it mode- 
rated, and, next morning, the weather was fine. We then 
went to work, and rigged jury-masts ; reaching New York 
a few days later. 

Had this accident occui'red to our vessel in the night, as 
did that to the Scourge, our fate would probably have been 
decided in a few minutes. As it was, half an hour, in the 
sort of sea that was going, would have finished her. As for 
my repentance, if I can use the term on such an occasion, 
and for such a feeling, it was inore lasting than thorough. 
I have never been so fearfully profane since ; and often, 
when I have felt the disposition to give way to passion in 
this revolting form, my feelings, as I stood by those bitts, 
have recurred to my mind — my vow has been remembered, 
and I hope, together, they did some good, until I was made 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 187 

lo see the general errors of my life, and the necessity of 
throwing all my sins on the mei'ciful interposition of my 



Saviour. 

I was not as reckless and extravagant, this time, in port, 
as I had usually been, of late years. I shipped, before my 
money was all gone, on board the Henry Kneeland, for 
Liverpool, via New Orleans. On reaching the latter port, 
all hands of us were beset by the land-sharks, in the shape 
of landlords, who told us how much better we should be off' 
by running, than by sticking by the ship. We listened to 
these tales, and went in a body. What made the matter 
worse, and our conduct the less excusable, was the fact, that 
we got good wages and good treatment in the Henry Knee- 
land. The landlords came with two boats, in the night ; we 
passed our dunnage down to them, and away we went, leaving 
only one man on board. The very next day we all shipped 
on board the Marian, United States' Revenue Cutter, where I 
was rated a quarter-mate, at fifteen cellars a month ; leav 
ing seventeen to obtain this preferment ! 

We got a good craft for our money, however. She was 
a large comfortable schooner, that mounted a few light guns, 
and our duty was far from heavy. The treatment turned 
out to be good, also, as some relief to our folly. One of 
our Henry Kneelands died of the " horrors" before we got 
to sea, and we buried him at the watering-place, near the 
lower bar. I must have been about four months in the 
Marion, during which time we visited the different keys, and 
went into Key West. At this place, our crew became 
sickly, and I was landed among others, and sent to a board- 
ing-house. It was near a month before we could get the 
crew together again, when we sailed for Norfolk. At Nor- 
folk, six of us had relapses, and were sent to the hospital; 
the cutter sailing without us. I never saw the craft after- 
wards. 

I was but a fortnight in the hospital, the disease being 
only the fever and ague. Just as I came out, the Alert, the 
New York cutter, came in, and I was sent on board her. 
This separated me from all the Henry Kneelands but one 
old man. The Alert was bound south, on duty connected 
with the nullification troubles ; and, soon after I joined her, 
she sailed for Charleston, South Carolina. Here a little 







88 NEDMYERS;OR, 

eet of cutters soon collected ; no less than seven of us 
6eing at anchor in the waters of South Carolina, to prevent 
any breach of the tariff laws. When I had been "on board 
the' Alert about a month, a new cutler called the Jackson, 
came in from New York, and being the finest craft on the 
station, our officers and crew were transferred to her in a 
body ; our captain being the senior of all the revenue cap- 
tains present. 

I must have been at least six months in the waters of South 
Carolina, thus employed. We never went to sea, but oc- 
casionally dropped down as far as Rebellion Roads. We 
were not allowed to go ashore, except on rare occasions, and 
towards the last, matters got to be so serious, that we al- 
most looked upon ourselves as in an enemy's country. 
Commodore Elliott joined the station in the Natchez sloop- 
of-war, and the Experiment, man-of-war schooner, also 
arrived and remained. Afler the arrival of the Natchez, 
the Commodore took command of all hands of us afloat, and 
we were kept in a state of high preparation for service. We 
were occasionally at quarters, nights, though I never ex- 
actly knew the reasons. It was said attacks on us were 
anticipated. General Scott was in the fort, and matters 
looked very warlike, for several weeks. 

At length we got the joyful news that nullification had 
been thrown overboard, and that no more was to be appre- 
hended. It seems that the crews of the different cutters 
had been increased for this particular service ; but, now it 
was over, there wei'e more men employed than Government 
had needed. We were told, in consequence, that those 
among us who wished our dischai'ges, might have them on 
application. 

I had been long enough in this 'long-shore service, and 
applied to be discharged, under this provision. My time 
was so near out, however, that I should have got away 
soon, in regular course. 

I now went ashore at Charleston, and had my swig, as 
long as the money lasted. 1 gave myself no trouble about 
the ship's husband, whose collar-bone I had broken ; nor do 
I now know whether he was then living, or dead. In a 
word, I thought only of the present time ; the past and the 
future being equally indifferent to me. My old landlord 



A LIFE B£FOR£ TH£ MAST. 189 

(vas dead ; and I fell altogether into the hands of a new set. 
( never took the precaution to change my name, at any 
period of my life, with the exception, that I dropped the 
Robert, in signing sliipping-articles. I also wrote my name 
Myers, instead of Meyers, as, I have been informed by my 
sister, was the true spelling. But this proceeded from igno- 
rance, and not from intention. In all times, and seasons, 
and weathers, and services, 1 have sailed as Ned Myers ; and 
as nothing else. 

It soon became necessary to ship again ; and I went on 
board the Harriet and Jesse, which was bound to Havre de 
Grace. This proved to be a pleasant, easy voyage ; the 
ship coming back to New York filled with passengers, who 
were called Swiss ; but most of whom, as I understand, came 
from Wurtemberg, Alsace, and the countries on the Rhine. 
On reaching New York, I .went on to Philadelphia, to obtain 
the effects I had left there, when I went out in the Amelia. 
But my landlord was dead ; his family was scattered ; and 
my property had disappeared. I never knew who got it ; 
but a quadrant, watch, and some entirely new clothes, wenf 
in the wreck. I suppose I lost, at least, two hundred dol 
lars, in this way. What odds did it make to me 1 it would 
have gone in grog, if it had not gone in this manner. 

I staid but a short time in Philadelphia, joining a brig, 
called the Topaz, bound to Havana. We arrived out, after 
a short passage ; and here I was exposed to as strong a 
temptation to commit crime, as a poor fellow need encounter. 
A beautiful American-built brig, was lying in port, bound to 
Africa, for slaves. She was the loveliest craft I ever laid 
eyes on ; and the very sight of her gave me a longing to go 
m her. She offered forty dollars a month, with the privi- 
lege of a slave and a half. I went so far as to try to get on 
board her ; but met with some difficulty, in having my things 
seized. The captain found it out ; and, by pointing out to 
me the danger I ran, succeeded in changing my mind. 

I will not deny, that I knew the trade was immoral ; but 
so is smuggling ; and I viewed them pretty much as the 
same thing, in this sense. I am now told, that the law of 
this country pronounces the American citizen, who goes in 
a slaver, a pirate; and treats him as such ; which, to me, 
seems very pxfraordinarv. I do not understand, how a 



190 NED MYERS; OR 

Spaniard can do that, and be no pirate, which makes an 
American a pirate, if he be guilty of it. I feel certain, thai 
very few sailors know in what light the law views slaving. 
Now, piracy is robbing, on the high seas, and has always 
h^en contrary to law; but slaving was encouraged by all 
nations, a short time since ; and we poor tars look upon the 
change, as nothing but a change in policy. As for myself, 
I should have gone in that brig, in utter ignorance of the 
risks I ran, and believing myself to be about as guilty, in a 
moral sense, as I was when I smuggled tobacco, on the 
coast of Ireland, or opium in Canton.* 

* This is the reasoning of Ned. I have always looked upon the 
American- law as erroneous in principle, and too severe in its penal- 
ties. Erroneous in principle, as piracy is a crime against the law of 
nations, and it is not legal for any one community to widen, or nar- 
row, the action of international law. It is peculiarly the policy of this 
country, rigidly to observe this principle, since she has so many in- 
terests dependent on its existence. The punishment of death is too 
severe, when we consider that nabobs are among us, who laid the 
foundations of their wealth, as slaving merchants, when slaving was 
legal. Sudden mutations in morals, are not to be made by a dash of 
the pen ; and even public sentiment can hardly be made to consider 
slaving much of a crime, in a slave-holding community. But, even 
the punishment of death might be inflicted, without arrogating to 
Congress a power to say what is, and what is not, piracy. 

It will probably be sdd, the error is merely one of language ; the 
jurisdiction being clearly legal. Is this true ? Can Congress, legally 
or constitutionally, legislate for American citizens, when undeniably 
within the jurisdiction of foreign states? Admit this as a principle, 
and what is to prevent Congress from punishing acts, that it may be 
the policy of foreign countries to exact from even casual residents. 
If Congress can punish me, as a pirate, for slaving under a foreign 
flag, and in foreign countries, it can punish me for carrying arms 
against all American allies ; and yet military service may be exacted 
of even an American citizen, resident in a foreign state, under particular 
circumstances. The same difficulty, in principle, may be extended to 
the whole catalogue of legal crime. 

Congress exists only for specified purposes. It can punish piracy, 
but it cannot declare what shall, or shall not, be piracy; as this would 
be invading the authority of international law. Under the general 
power to pass laws, that are necessary to carry out the system, it can 
derive no authority ; since there can be no legal necessity for any 
such double legislation, under the comity of nations. Suppose, fof 
instance, England should legalize slaving, again. Could the Unitfid 



A hlthj BEFORE THE MAST. 191 

As the Topaz was coming out of the port of Havana, 
homeward bound, and just as she was abreast of the Moro, 
the brig carried away her bobstay. I was busy in helping 
to unreeve the stay, when I was seized with sudden and vio- 
lent cramps. This attack proved to be the cholera, which 
came near carrying me off. The captain had me taken aft, 
where I was attended with the greatest care. God be praised 
for his mercy ! I got well, though scarcely able to do any 
more duty before we got in. 

A short voyage gives short commons ; and I was soon 
obliged to look out for another craft. This time I shipped 
in the Erie, Captain Funk, a Havre liner, and sailed soon 
after. This was a noble ship, with the best of usage. Both 
our passages were pleasant, and give me nothing to relate. 
While I was at work in the hold, at Havre, a poor female 
passenger, who came to look at the ship, fell through the 
hatch, and was so much injured as to be left behind. I 
mention the circumstance merely to show how near I was 
to a meeting with my old shipmate, who is writing these 
pages, and yet missed him. On comparing notes, I find he 
was on deck when this accident happened, having come to 
see after some effects he was then shipping to New York. 
These very effects 1 handled, and supposed them to belong 
to a passenger who was to come home in the ship ; but, as 
they were addressed to another name, I could not recognise 
them. Mr. Cooper did not come home in the Erie, but 
passed over to England, and embarked at London, and so 
I failed to see him. 

In these liners, the captains wish to keep the good 'men of 
their crews as long as they can. V/e liked the Erie and 
her captain so much, that eight or ten of us stuck by the 
ship, and went out in her again. This time ogr luck was 
not so good. The passage out was well enough, but home- 
ward-bound we had a hard time of it. While in Havre, 

States claim the American citizen, who had engaged in slaving, under 
the English flag, and from a British port, under the renowned Ash- 
burton treaty ? Would England give such a man up ? No more 
than she will now give up the slaves that run from the American ves- 
sel, which is driven in by stress of weather. One of the vices of 
philanthropy is to overreach its own policy, by losing sight of all 
tollateral principles and interests Editor. 



192 NED MYERS; OR, 

too, we had a narrow escape. Christmas night, a fire broke) 
out in the cabin, and came near smothering us all, forward, 
before we knew anything about it. Our chief mate, whose 
name was Everdy,* saved the vessel by his caution and 
exertions ; the captain not getting on board until the fire hiid 
come to a head. We kept everything closed until an engine 
was ready, then cut away the deck, and sent down the hose 
This expedient, with a fi'ee use of water, saved the ship. It 
is not known how the fire originated. A good deal of 
damage was done, and some property was lost. 

Notwithstanding this accident, we had the ship ready for 
sea early in January, 1834. For the first week out, we 
met with head winds and heavy weather ; so heavy, in- 
deed, as to render it difficult to get rid of the pilot. The 
ship beat down channel with him on board, as low as the 
Eddystone. Here we saw the Sully, outward bound, run- 
ning up channel before the wind. Signals were exchanged, 
and our ship, which was then well off" the land, ran in and 
spoke the Sully. We put our pilot on board this ship, 
which was doing a good turn all round. The afternoon 
proving fair, and the wind moderating, Captain Funk filled 
and stood in near to the coast, as his best tack. Towards 
night, however, the gale freshened, and blew into the bay, 
between the Start Point and the Lizard, in a heavy, steady 
manner. 

The first thing M'as to ware off shore ; after which, we 
were compelled to take in nearly all our canvass. The 
gale continued to increase, and the night set in dark. 
There were plenty of ports to leeward, but it was ticklish 
work to lose a foot of ground, unless one knew exactly 
where he was going. We had no pilot, and the captain de- 
cided to hol.d on. I have seldom known it to blow harder 
than it did that night ; and, for hours, everything depended 
on our main-topsail's standing, which sail we had set, close- 
reefed. I did not see anything to guide us, but the com- 
pass, until about ten o'clock, when I caught a view of a 
light close on our lee bow. This was the Eddystone, 
which stands pretty nearly in a line between the Start and 
the Lizard, and rather more than three leagues from the 



• Ned's pronunciation. 



A LIFE B£FOR£ THE MAST. 193 

land. As we headed, we might lay past, should every- 
thing stand ; but, if our topsail went, we should have been 
pretty certain of fetching up on those famous rocks, where 
a three-decker would have gone to pieces in an hour's time 
in such a gale. 

I suppose we passed the Eddystone at a safe distance, or 
the captain would not have attempted going to windward of 
it ; but, to me, it appeared that we were fearfully near. The 
sea was breaking over the light tremendously, and could be 
plainly seen, as it flashed up near the lantern. We went 
by, however, surging slowly ahead, though our drift must 
have been very material. 

The Start, and the point to the westward of it, were still 
to be cleared. They were a good way off, and but a little 
to leeward, as the ship headed. In smooth water, and with 
a whole-sail breeze, it would have been easy enough to lay 
past the Start, when at the Eddystone, with a south-west 
wind ; but, in a gale, it is a serious matter, especially on a 
flood-tide. I know all hands of us, forward and aft, looked 
upon our situation as very grave. We passed several un- 
easy houi's, after we lost sight of the Eddystone, before we 
got a view of the land near the Start. When I saw it, the 
heights appeared like a dark cloud hanging over us, and I 
certainly thought the ship was gone. At this time, the cap- 
tain and mate consulted together, and the latter came to us, 
in a very calm, steady manner, and said — " Come, boys ; 
we may as well go ashore without masts as with them, and 
our only hope is in getting more canvass to stand. We 
must turn-to, and make sail on the ship." 

Everybody was in motion on this hint, and the first thing 
we did was to board fore-tack. The clews of that sail came 
down as if so many giants had hold of the tack and sheet. 
We set it, double-reefed, which made it but a rag of a sail, 
and yet the ship felt it directly. We next tried the fore-top- 
sail, close-reefed, and this stood. It was well we did, for I 
feel certain the ship was now in the ground-swell That 
black hill seemed ready to fall on our heads. We tried the 
mizen-topsail, but we found it would not do, and we furled 
it again, not without great difficulty. Things still looked 
serious, the land drawing nearer and nearer ; and we tried 
to get the mainsail, double-reefed, on the ship. Everybody 
17 . 



194 NED MYERS; OR, 

mustered at the tack and sheet, and we dragged down thai 
bit of cloth as if it had been muslin. The good ship now 
quivered like a horse that is over-ridden, but in those liners- 
everything is strong, and everything stood, I never saw 
spray thrown from a ship's bows, as it was thrown from the 
Erie's that night. We had a breathless quarter of an hour 
after the mainsail was set, everybody looking to see what 
would go first. Every rope and bolt in the craft was tried 
to the utmost, but all stood ! At the most critical moment, 
we caught a glimpse of a light in a house that was known 
to stand near the Start ; and the mate came among us, pointed 
it out, and said, if we weathered that, we should go clear. 
After hearing this, my eyes were never off that light, and 
glad was I to see it slowly drawing more astern, and more 
under our lee. At last we got it on our quarter, and knew 
that we had gone clear ! The gloomy-looking land disap 
peared to leeward, in a deep, broad bay, giving us plenty of 
sea-room. 

-We now took in canvass, to ease the ship. The mainsail 
and fore-topsail were furled, leaving her to jog along under 
the main-topsail, foresail, and fore-topmast staysail. I look 
upon this as one of my narrowest escapes from shipwreck ; 
and I consider the escape, under the mercy of God, to have 
been owing to the steadiness of our officers, and the goodness 
of the ship and her outfit. It was like pushing a horse to 
the trial of every nerve and sinew, and only winning the 
race under whip and spur. Wood, and iron, and cordage, 
and canvass, can do no more than they did that night. 

Next morning, at breakfast, the crew talked the matter 
over. We had a hard set in this ship, the men being prime 
seamen, but of i-eckless habits and characters. Some of the 
most thoughtless among them admitted that they had prayed 
secretly for succour, and, for myself, I am most thankful 
that / did. These confessions were made half-jestingly, but 
I believe them to have been true, judging from my own case. 
It may sound bravely in the ears of the thoughtless and 
foolish, to boast of indifference on such occasions ; but, few 
men can face death under circumstances like those in which 
we were placed, without admitting to themselves, however 
reluctantly, that there is a Power above, on which they must 
lean for personal safety, as vvell as for spiritual supporf 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 195 

More than usual care was had for the future welfare of sailors 
among the Havre liners, there being a mariners' church at 
Havre, at which our captain always attended, as well as his 
mates ; and efforts were made to make us go also. The 
effect was good, the men being better behaved, and more 
sober, in consequence. 

The wind shifted a day or two after this escape, giving 
us a slant that carried us past Scilly, fairly out into the At- 
lantic. A fortnight or so after ouc interview with the Ed- 
dystone we carried away the pintals of the rudder, which 
was saved only by the modern invention that prevents the 
head from dropping, by means of the deck. To prevent the 
.strain, and to get some service from the rudder, however, 
we found it necessary to sling the latter, and to breast it 
into the stern-post by means of purchases. A spar was laid 
athwart the coach-house, directly over the rudder, and we 
rove a chain through the tiller-hole, and passed it over this 
spar. For this purpose the smallest chain-cable was used, 
the rudder being raised from the deck by means of sheers. 
We then got a set of chain-topsail sheets, parcelled them 
well, and took a clove hitch with them around the rudder, 
about half-way up. One end was brought into each main- 
chain, and set up by tackles. In this manner the wheel did 
tolerably well, though we had to let the ship lie-to in heavy 
weather. 

The chain sheets held on near a month, and then gave 
way. On examination, it was found that the parcelling had 
gone under the ship's counter, and that the copper had nearly 
destroyed the iron. After this, we mustered all the chains 
of the ship, of proper size, parcelled them very thoroughly, 
got another clove hitch around the rudder as before, and 
brought the ends to the hawse-holes, letting the bights fall, 
one on each side of the ship's keel. The ends were next 
brought to the windlass and hove taut. This answered pretty 
well, and stood until we got the ship into New York. Our 
whole passage was stormy, and lasted seventy days, as near 
as I can recollect. The ship was almost given up when we 
got in, and great was the joy at our arrival. 

As the Erie lost her turn, in consequence of wanting re- 
pairs, most of us went on board the Henry IVth, in the 
same line. This vovage was comfortable, and successful, 



19G NKD MYERS; OR, 

a fine ship and good usage. On oui' return to New York 
most of us went back to the Erie, liking both vessel and 
captain, as well as her other officers. I went twice more 
to Havre and back in this ship, making four voyages in her 
in all. At the end of the fourth voyage our old mate left 
us, to do business ashore, and we took a dislike to his suc- 
cessor, though it was without trying him. The mate we 
lost had been a great favourite, and we seemed to think if 
he went we must go too. At any rate, nearly all hands 
went to the Silvie de Grasse, where we got another good 
ship, good officers, and good treatment. In fact, all these 
Havre liners were very much alike in these respects, the Sil- 
vie de Grasse being the fourth in which I had then sailed, 
and to me they all seemed as if they belonged to the same 
family. I went twice to Havre in this ship also, when I left 
her for the Normandy, in the same line. I made this change 
in consequence of an affair about some segars in Havre, in 
which I had no other concern than to father another man's 
fault. The captain treated me very handsomely, but my 
temperament is such that I am apt to fly off in a tangent 
when anything goes up stream. It was caprice that took 
me from the Silvie de Grasse, and put me in her sister- 
liner. 

I liked the Normandy as well as the rest of these liners, 
except that the vessel steered badly. I made only one voy- 
age in her, however, as will be seen in the next chapter. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

I HAD now been no less than eight voyages in the Havre 
\rade, without intermission. So regular had my occupation 
become, that I began to think 1 was a part of a liner myself. 
I liked the treatment, the food, the ships, and the officers. 
Whenever we got home, I worked in the ship, at day's work, 
until paid off; after which, no more was seen of Ned until 
it was time to go on board to sail. When I got in, in the 
Normandy, it happened as usual, though I took a short swing 



« lilFE BEFORE THE MAST. 197 

only. Mr. Everdy, our old mate in the Erie, was working 
gangs of stevedores, riggers, &c., ashore ; and when I went 
and reported myself to him, as ready for work in the Nor- 
mandy again, he observed that her gang was full, but that, 
by going up-town next morning, to the screw-dock, 1 should 
find an excellent job on board a brig. The following day, 
accordingly, I took my dinner in a pail, and started off for 
the dock, as directed. On my way, I fell in with an old 
shipmate in the navy, a boatswain's-mate, of the name of 
Benson. This man asked me where I was bound with my 
pail, and I told him. " What's the use," says he, " of drag- 
ging your soul out in these liners, when you have a man-of- 
war under your lee !" Then he told me he meant to ship, 
and advised me to do the same. I drank wilh him two or 
three times, and felt half persuaded to enter ; but, recollect- 
ing the brig, I left him, and pushed on to the dock. When 
I got there, it was so late that the vessel had got off the dock, 
and was already under way in the stream. 

My day's work was now up, and I determined to make a 
full holiday of it. As I went back, I fell in with Captain 
Mix, the officer with whom I had first gone on the lakes, and 
my old first-lieutenant in the Delaware, and had a bit of 
navy talk with him ; after which I drifted along as far as 
the rendezvous. The officer in charge was Mr. M'Kenny, 
my old first-lieutenant in the Brandywine, and, before I quit- 
ted the house, my name was down, again, for one of Uncle 
Sam's sailor-men. In this accidental manner have I floated 
about the world, most of my life — not dreaming in the morn- 
ing, what would fetch me up before night. 

When it was time to go off, I was ready, and was sent on 
board the Hudson, which vessel Captain Mix then com- 
manded. I have the consolation of knowing that I never 
ran, or thought of rilnning, from either of the eleven men- 
of-war on board of which I have served, counting big and 
little, service of days and service of years. I had so long a 
pull in the receiving-ship, as to get heartily tired of her; 
and, when an opportunity offered, I put my name down for 
the Constellation 38, which was then fitting out for the West 
India station, in Norfolk. A draft of us was sent round to 
that ship accordingly, and we found she had hauled off from 
the yard, and was lying between the forts. When I got or 
17* 



198 NEDMYEIlS;OR, 

board, I ascertained that something like fifty of my old liners 
were in this very ship, some common motive inducing them 
to take service in the navy, ail at the same time. As for 
myself, it happened just as 1 have related, though I always 
liked the navy, and was ever ready to join a ship of war, foi 
a pleasant cruise. 

Commodore Dallas's pennant was flying in the Constella- 
tion when I joined her. A short time afterwards, the ship 
sailed for the West Indies. As there was nothing material 
occurred in the cruise, it is unnecessary to relate things in 
the order in which they took place. The ship went to 
Havana, Trinidad, Cura^oa, Laguayra, Santa Cruz, Vera 
Cruz, Campeachy, Tampico, Key West, &c. We lay more 
or less time at all these ports, and in Santa Cruz we had a 
great ball on board. After passing several months in this 
manner, we went to Pensacola. The St. Louis was with us 
most of this time, though she did not sail from America in 
company. The next season the whole squadron went to 
Vera Cruz in company, seven or eight sail of us in all, giving 
the Mexicans some alarm, I believe. 

But the Florida war gave us the most occupation. I was 
out in all sorts of ways, on expeditions, and can say I never 
saw an Indian, except those who came to give themselves 
up. I was in steamboats, cutters, launches, and on shore, 
marching like a soldier, with a gun on my shoulder, and 
precious duty it was for a sailor. 

The St. Louis being short of hands, I was also drafted for 
a cruise in her ; going the rounds much as we had done in 
the frigate. This was a fine ship, and was then commanded 
by Captain Rousseau, an officer much respected and liked, 
by us all. Mr. Byrne, my old shipmate in the Delaware, 
went out with us as first-lieutenant of the Constellation, but 
he did not remain out the whole cruise. 

Altogether I was out on the West India station three 
years, but got into the hospital, for several months of the 
time, in consequence of a broken bone. While in the hos- 
pital, the frigate made a cruise, leaving me ashore. On her 
return, I was invalided home, in the Levant, Captain Pauld- 
ing, another solid, excellent officer. In a word, I was lucky 
in my officers, generally ; the treatment on board the frigate 
being just and good. The duty in the Constellation was 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 199 

very hardj being a sort of soldier duty, which may be very 
well for those that are trained to it, but makes bad weather 
for us blue-jackets. Captain Mix, the officer with whom I 
went to the lakes, was out on the station in command of the 
Concord, sloop of war, and, for some time, was in charge 
of our ship, during the absence of Commodore Dallas, in 
his own vessel. In this manner are old shipmates often 
thrown together, after years of separation. 

In the hospital I was rated as porter, Captain Bolton and 
Captain Latimer being my commanding officers ; the first 
being in charge of the yard, and the second his next in rank. 
From these two gentlemen I received so many favours, that 
it would be ungrateful in me not to mention them. Dr. Ter- 
rill, the surgeon of the hospital, too, was also exceedingly 
kind to me, during the time I was under his care. 

As I had much leisure time in the hospital, I took charge 
of a garden, and got to be somewhat of a gardener. It was 
said I had the best garden about Pensacola, which is quite 
likely true, as I never saw but one other. 

The most important thing, however, that occurred to me 
while in the hospital, was a disposition that suddenly arose 
in my mind, to reflect on my future state, and to look at 
religious things with serious eyes. Dr. Terrill had some 
blacks in his service, who were in the habit of holding little 
Methodist meetings, where they sang hymns, and conversed 
together seriously. I never joined these people, being too 
white for that, down at Pensacola, but I could overhear them 
from my own little room. A Roman Catholic in the hospi- 
tal had a prayer-book in English, which he lent to me, and 
I got into the habit of reading a prayer in it, daily, as a sort 
of worshipping of the Almighty. This was the first act of 
mine, that approached private worship, since the day I left 
Mr. Marchinton's ; if I except the kw hasty mental petitions 
put up in moments of danger. 

After a time, I began to think it would never do for me, a 
Protestant born and baptised, to be studying a Romish prayer- 
book ; and I hunted up one that was Protestant, and which 
bad been written expressly for seamen. This I took to my 
room, and used in place of the Romish book, Dr, Terrill 
had a number of bibles under his charge, and I obtained one 
of thost!, also, and I actually got into the practice of reading 



200 NED MYERS; OR, 

a chapter every night, as well as of reading a prayer. I 
also knocked off from drink, and ceased to swear. My 
reading in the bible, now, was not for the stories, but seri- 
ously to improve my mind and morals. 

1 must have been several months getting to be more and 
more in earnest on the subject of morality, if not of vita, 
religion, when I formed an acquaintance with a new stew- 
ard, who had just joined the hospital. This man was ready 
enough to converse with me about the bible, but he turned 
out to be a Deist. Notwithstanding my own disposition to 
think more seriously of my true situation, I had many mis- 
givings on the subject of the Saviour's being the Son of 
God. It seemed improbable to me, and I was falling into 
the danger which is so apt to beset the new beginner — that 
of self-sufficiency, and the substituting of human wisdom 
for faith. The steward was not slow in discovering this ; 
and he produced some of Tom Paine's works, by way of 
strengthening me in the unbelief. I now read Tom Paine, 
instead of the bible, and soon had practical evidence of the 
bad effects of his miserable system. I soon got stern-way 
on me in morals ; began to drink, as before, though seldom 
intoxicated, and grew indifferent to my bible and prayer- 
book, as well as careless of the future. I began to think 
that the things of this world were to be enjoyed, and he was 
the wisest who made the most of his time. 

I must confess, also, that the bad examples which I saw set 
by men professing to be Christians, had a strong tendency 
to disgust me with religion. The great mistake I made was, 
in supposing I had undergone any real change of heart. 
Circumstances disposed me to reflect, and reflection brought 
me to be serious, on subjects that I had hitherto treated with 
levity ; but the grace of God was still, in a great degree, 
withheld from me, leaving me a prey to such arguments as 
those of the steward, and his great prophet and master, 
Mr. Paine. 

In the hospital, and that, too, at a place like Pensacola 
there was little opportunity for me to break out into my old 
excesses ; though I found liquor, on one or two occasions, 
even there, and got myself into some disgrace in conse- 
quence. On the whole, however, the discipline, my situa 
tion, and my own resolution, kept me tolerably correct. It 



A lilFE BEFORE THE MAST. 201 

IS the restraint of a ship that alone prevents sailors from 
dying much sooner than they do ; for it is certain no man 
could hold out long who passed three or four months 
every year in the sort of indulgencies into which I myself 
have often run, after returning from long voyages. This is 
one advantage of the navy ; two or three days of riotous 
livmg being all a fellow can very well get in a three years' 
cruise. Any man who has ever been in a vessel of war, 
particularly in old times, can see the effect produced by the 
system, and regular living of a ship. When the crew first 
came on board, the men were listless, almost lifeless, with 
recent dissipation; some suffering withthe "horrors," perhaps; 
but a kw weeks of regular living would bring them all 
round ; and, by the end of the cruise, most of the people 
would come into port, and be paid off, with renovated con- 
stitutions. It is a little different, now, to be sure, as the men 
ship for general service, and commonly serve a short ap- 
prenticeship in a receiving vessel, before they are turned 
over to the sea-going craft. This brings them on board the 
last in a little belter condition than used to be the case; but, 
even now, six months in a man-of-war is a new lease for a 
seaman's life. 

[ say I got myself into disgrace in the hospital of Pensa- 
cola, in consequence of my habit of drinking. The facts 
were as follows, for I have no desire to conceal, or to pa- 
rade before the world, my own delinquencies ; but, I con- 
fess them with the hope that the pictures they present, may 
have some salutary influence on the conduct of others. 
The doctor, who was steadily my friend, and often gave me 
excellent advice, went north, in order to bring his wife to 
Pensacola. I was considered entitled to a pension for the 
hurt which had brought me into the hospital, and the doctor 
had promised to see something about it, while at Washing- 
ton. This was not done, in consequence of his not passing 
through Washington, as had been expected. Now, nature 
has so formed me, that any disgust, or disappointment, 
makes me reckless, and awakens a desire to revenge 
myself, on myself, as I may say. It was this feeling which 
first carried me from Halifax ; it was this feeling that made 
me run from the Sterling ; and which has often changed 
md sometimes marred my prospects, as I have passe i 



202 JVED MYIiRS; OR, 

through life. As soon as I learned that nothing had bcor 
said about my pension, this same feeling came over mc, 
and 1 became reckless. 1 had not drawn my grog fol 
months, and, indeed, had left off drinking entirely ; but 1 
now determined to have my fill, at the first good opportu- 
nity. I meant to make the officers sorry, by doing some- 
thing that was very wrong, and for which I should be sorry 
myself. 

I kept the keys of the liquor of the hospital. The first 
thing was to find a confederate, which I did in the person 
of a Baltimore chap, who entered into my plan from pure 
love of liquor. I then got a stock of the wine, and we went 
to work on it, in my room. The liquor was sherry, and it 
took nine bottles of it to lay us both up. Even this did not 
make me beastly drunk, but it made me desperate and im- 
pudent. I abused the doctor, and came very near putting 
my foot into it, with Captain Latimer, who is an officer that 
it will not do, always, to trifle with. Still, these gentlemen, 
with Captain Bolton, had more consideration for me, than 
I had for myself, and I escaped with only a good reprimand. 
It was owing to this frolic, however, that I was invalided 
home — as they call it out there, no one seeming to consider 
Pensacola as being in the United States. 

When landed from the Levant, I was sent to the Navy 
Yard Hospital, Brooklyn. After staying two or three days 
here, I determined to go to the seat of government, and take 
a look at the great guns stationed there, Uncle Sam and all. 
I was paid off from the Levant, accordingly, and leaving 
the balance with the purser of the yard, I set off on my 
journey, with fifty dollars in my pockets, which they tell 
me is about a member of Congress' mileage, for the dis- 
tance I had to go. Of course this was enough, as a mem- 
ber of Congress would naturally take care and give himself 
as much as he wanted. 

When I got on board the South-Amboy boat, I found a 
party of Indians there, going to head-quarters, like myself. 
The sight of these chaps set up all my rigging, and I felt 
ripe for fun. I treated them to a breakfast each, and gave 
them as much to drink as they could swallow. We all got 
merry, and had our own coarse fun, in the usual thought 
less manner of seamen. This was a bad beginning, and 



A LIFE BEFORE THE Mi ST 203 

by the time we reached a tavern, I was ready to anchor. 
Where this was, is more than I know ; for I was not in a 
state to keep a ship's reckoning. Whether any of my mo- 
ney was stolen or not, I cannot say, but I know that some 
of my clothes were. Next day I got to Philadelphia, where 
I had another frolic. After this, I went on to Washington, 
keeping it up; the whole distance. I fell in with a soldier 
chap, who was out of cash, and who was going to Wash- 
ington to get a pension, too ; and so we lived in common. 
When we reached Washington, my cash was diminished to 
three dollars and a half, and all was the consequences of 
brandy and folly. I had actually spent forty-six dollars 
and a half, in a journey that might have been made with 
ten, respectably ! 

I got my travelling companion to recommend a boarding- 
house, which he did. I felt miserable from my excesses, 
and went to bed. In the morning, the three dollars and a 
half were gone. I felt too ill to go to the Department that 
day, but kept on drinking — eating nothing. Next day, my 
landlord took the trouble to inquire into the state of my 
pocket, and I told him the truth. This brought about a 
pretty free explanation between us, in which I was given to 
understand that my time was up in that place. I afterwards 
found out I had got into a regular soldier-house, and it was 
no wonder they did not know how to treat an old salt. 

Captain Mix had given me a letter to Commodore Chaun- 
cey, who was then living, and one of the Commissioners. I 
felt pretty certain the old gentleman would not let one of the 
Scourges founder at head-quarters, and so I crawled up to 
the Department, and got admission to him. The commodore 
seemed glad to see me; questioned me a good deal about the 
loss of the schooner, and finally gave me directions how to 
proceed. I then discovered that my pension ticket had 
actually reached Washington, but had been sent back to 
Pensacola, to get some informality corrected. This would 
compel me to remain some time at Washington. I felt 
unwell, and got back to my boarding-house with these 
tidings. The gentleman who kept the house was far from 
being satisfied with this, and he gave me a hint that at once 
Dut the door between us. This was the first lime I ever had 
R door shut upon me, and I ani thankful it happened at a 



204 NED MYERS; OR, 

soldier rendezvous. I gave the man all my spare clothes in 
pawn, and walked away from his house. 

I had undoubtedly brought on myself a fit of the " horrors," 
by my recent excesses. As I went along the streets, I 
thought every one was sneering at me ; and, though burning 
with thirst, I felt ashamed to enter any house to ask even 
for water. A black gave me the direction- of the Navy 
Yard, and I shaped my course for it, feeling more like lying 
down to die, than anything else. When about half-way 
across the bit of vacant land between the Capitol and the 
Yard, I sat down under a high picket-fence, and the devil 
put it into my head, that it would be well to terminate suf- 
ferings that seemed too hard to be borne, by hanging myself 
on that very fence. I took the handkerchief from my neck, 
made a running bow-line, and got so far as to be at work at 
a standing bow-line, to hitch over the top of one of the poles 
of the fence. 

I now stood up, and began to look for a proper picket to 
make fast to, when, in gazing about, I caught sight of the 
mast-heads of the shipping at the yard, and of the ensign 
under which I had so long served ! These came over me, 
as a lighthouse comes over a mariner in distress at sea, and 
I taought there must be friends for me in that quarter. The 
sight gave me courage and strength, and I determined no old 
shipmate should hear of a blue-jacket's hanging himself on 
a picket, in a fit of the horrors. Casting off the bowlines, I 
replaced the handkerchief on my neck, and made the best 
of my way towards those blessed mast-heads, which, under 
God's mercy, were the means of preventing me from com- 
mitting suicide. 

As I came up to the gate of the yard, the marine on post 
sung out to me, " Halloo, Myers, where are you come from? 
You look as if you had been dragged through h — , and beaten 
with a soot-bag !" This man, the first I met at the Navy 
Yard, had been with me three years in the Delaware, and 
knew me in spite of my miserable appearance. He advised 
me to go on board the Fulton, then lying at the Yard, where 
he said I should find several more old Delawares, who would 
take good care of me. I did as he directed, and, on getting 
on board, I fell in with lots of acquaintances. Some brought 
mo tea, and some brought me grog. I told my yarn, and 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 2lliJ 

the chaps around me laid a plan to get ashore on liberty that 
night, and razee the house from which I had been turned 
away. But I persuaded them out of the notion, and the 
landlord went clear. 

After a while, I got a direction to a boarding-house near 
the Yard, and went to it, with a message from my old ship- 
mates that they would be responsible tor the pay. But to 
this the man would not listen ; he took me in on my own 
account, saying that no blue-jacket should be turned from 
his door, in distress. Here I staid and got a comfortable 
night's rest. Next day I was a new man, holy-stoned the 
decks, and went a second time to the Department. 

All the gentlemen in the office showed a desire to serve 
and advise me. The Pension Clerk gave me a letter to Mr. 
Boyle, the Chief Clerk, who gave me another letter to Com- 
modore Patterson, the commandant of the Navy-Yard. It 
seems that government provides a boarding-house for us pen- 
sioners to stay in, while at Washington, looking after our 
rights. This letter of Mr. Boyle's got me a berth in that house, 
where I was supplied with everything, even to washing and 
mending, for six weeks. Through the purser, I drew a 
stock of money from the purser at New York, and now 
began, again, to live soberly and respectably, considering 
all things. 

The house in which I lived was a sort of half-hospital, 
and may have had six or eight of us in it, altogether. 
Several of us were cripples from wounds and hurts, and, 
among others, was one Reuben James, a thorough old man- 
of-war's man, who had been in the service ever since he was 
a youth. This man had the credit of saving Decatur's life 
before Tripoli ; but he owned to me that he was not the 
person who did it. He was in the fight, and boarded with 
Decatur, but did not save his commander's life. He had 
been often wounded, and had just had a leg amputated for 
an old wound, received in the war of 1812, 1 believe. Liquor 
brought him to that. 

The reader will remember that the night the Scourge went 
down I received a severe blow from her jib-sheet blocks. A 
lump soon formed on the spot where the injury had been 
inflicted, and it had continued to increase until it was now 
SIS large as my fist, or even larger. I showed this lump to 
18 



206 NED MYERS; CR, 

James, one day, and he mentioned it to Dr. Foltz, the sur 
geon who attended the house. The doctor took a look at 
my arm, and recommended an operation, as the lump would 
continue to increase, and was already so large as to be in- 
convenient. I cannot say that it hurt me any, though it 
was an awkward sort of swab to be carrying on a fellow'.s 
shoulder. I had no great relish for being carved, and think 
I should have refused to submit to the operation, were it noi 
for James, who told me he would not be carrying Bunker 
Hill about on his arm, and would show me his own stump 
by way of encouragement. This man seemed to think an 
old sailor ought to have a wooden leg, or something of the 
sort, after he had reached a certain time of life. At all 
events, he persuaded me to let the doctor go to work, and I 
am now glad I did, as everything turned out well. Doctor 
Foltz operated, after 1 had been about a week under medi- 
cine, doing the job as neatly as man could wish. He told 
me the lump he removed weighed a pound and three quar- 
ters, and of course I was so much the lighter. I was about 
a month; after this, under his care, when he pronounced me 
•c be sea-worthy again. 

I now got things straight as regards my pension, for the 
aurt received on board the Constellation. It was no great 
matter, only three dollars a month, being one of the small 
pensions ; and the clerks, when they came to hear about the 
hurt, for which Dr. Foltz had operated, advised me to get 
evidence and procure a pension for that. I saw the Secre- 
tary, Mr. Paulding, on this subject, and the gentlemen were 
so kind as to overhaul their papers, in order to ascertain who 
could be found as a witness. They wrote to Captain Dea- 
con, the officer who commanded the Growler ; but he knew 
nothing of me, as I never was on board his schooner. This 
gentleman, however, wrote me a letter, himself, inviting me 
to come and see him, which I had it not in my power to do. 
I understand he is now dead. Mr. Trant had been dead 
many yeai's, and, as for Mr. Bogardus, I never knew what 
became of him. He was not in the line of promotion, and 
probably left the navy at the peace. In overhauling the 
Dooks, however, the pension-clerk came across the name 
of Lemuel Bryant. This man received a pension for the 
wound he got at Little York, and was one of those I harl 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 207 

hauled into the boat when the Scourge went down. He was 
then living at Portland, in Maine, his native State. Mr. 
Paulding advised me to get his certificate, for all hands in 
the Department seemed anxious I should not go away with- 
out something better than the three dollars a month. I pre- 
mised to go on, and see Lemuel Bryant, and obtain his tes- 
timony. 

Quitting Washington, I went to Alexandria and got on 
board a brig, called the Isabella, bound to New York, at 
which port we arrived in due time. Here I obtained the 
rest of my money, and kept myself pretty steady, more on 
account of my wounds, I fear, than anything else. Still 1 
drank too much ; and by way of putting a check on myself, 
I went to the Sailor's Retreat, Staten Island, and of course 
got out of the reach of liquor. Here I staid eight or ten 
days, until my wounds healed. While at the Retreat, the 
last day I remained there indeed, which was a Sunday, the 
physician came in, and told me that a clergyman of the 
Dutch Reformed Church, of the name of Miller, was about 
to have service down stairs, and that I had better go down 
and be present. To this request, not only civilly but kindly 
made, I answered that I had seen enough of the acts of re • 
ligious men to satisfy me, and that I believed a story I was 
then reading in a Magazine, would do me as much good as 
a sermon. The physician said a little in the way of reproof 
and admonition, and left me. As soon as his back was 
turned, some of my companions began to applaud the spirit 
t had shown, and the answer I had given the doctor. But 
I was not satisfied with myself. I had more secret respect 
for such things than I was willing to own, and conscience 
upbraided me for the manner in which I had slighted so 
well-meaning a request. Suddenly telling those around me 
that my mind was changed, and that I would go below and 
hear what was said, I put this new resolution in effect im 
mediately. 

I had no recollection of the text from which Mr. Miller 
preached ; it is possible I did not attend to it, at the moment 
it was given out ; but, during the whole discourse, I fancied 
the clergyman was addressing himself particularly to me, 
and that his eyes were never off me. That he touched my 
conscience I know, for the effect produced by this sermon, 



208 NED MYERS; OR 

though not uninterruptedly lasting, is remembered to the 
present hour. I made many excellent resolutions, and se- 
cretly resolved to reform, and to lead a better life. My 
thoughts were occupied the whole night with what I had 
heard, and my conscience was keenly active. 

The next morning I quitted the Retreat, and saw no more 
of Mr. Miller, at that time ; but I carried away with me 
many resolutionssthat would have been very admirable, had 
they only been adhered to. How short-lived they were, 
and how completely I was the slave of a vicious habit, will 
be seen, when I confess that I landed in New York a good 
deal the worse for having treated some militia-men who 
were in the steamer, to nearly a dozen glasses of hot-stuff, 
in crossing the bay. I had plenty of money, and a sailor's 
disposition to get rid of it, carelessly, and what I thought 
generously. It was Evacuation-Day, and severely cold, 
and the hot-stuff pleased everybody, on such an occasion. 
Nor was this all. In passing Whitehall slip, I saw the 
Ohio's first-cutter lying there, and it happened that I not 
only knew the officer of the boat, who had been one of the 
midshipmen of the Constellation, but that I knew most of its 
crew. I was hailed, of course, and then I asked leave to 
treat the men. The permission was obtained, and this se- 
cond act of liberality reduced me to the necessity of goino- 
"nto port, under a pilot's charge. Still I had not absolutely 
lorgotten the sermon, nor all my good resolutions. 

At the bourding-house I found a Prussian, named God- 
frey, a steady, sedate man, and I agreed with him to go to 
Savannah, to engage in the shad-fishery, for the winter, and 
to come north together in the spring. My landlord was not 
only ill and poor, but he had many children to support, and 
it is some proof that all my good resolutions were not for- 
gotten, that I was ready to go south before my money was 
gone, and willing it should do some good, in the interval of 
my absence. A check for fifty dollars still remained un- 
touched, and I gave it to this man, with the understanding 
he was to draw the money, use it for his own wants, and 
return it to me, if he could, when I got back. The money 
was drawn, but the man died, and I saw no more of it, 

Godfrey and I were shipped in a vessel called th-- William 
Taylor, a regular Savannah packet. It was out intention 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 209 

quit her as soon as she got in — by running, if necessary. 
We had a bad passage, and barely missed shipwreck on 
Hatteras, saving the brig by getting a sudden view of the 

ight, in heavy, thick weather. We got round, under close- 
reefed topsails, and that was all we did. After this, we had 
a quick run to Savannah. Godfrey had been taken with 
the small-pox before we arrived, and was sent to a hospital 
as soon as possible. In order to prevent rflnning, I feigned 
illness, too, and went to another. Here the captain paid me 
several visits, but my conscience was too much hardened by 
the practices of seamen, to let me hesitate about continuing 
to be ill. The brig was obliged to sail without me, and the 
same day I got well, as suddenly as I had fallen ill. 

I was not long in making a bargain with a fisherman to 
aid in catching shad. All this time, I lived at a sailor board- 
ing-house, and was surrounded by men who, like myself, 
had quitted the vessels in which they had arrived. One 
night the captain of a ship, called the Hope, came to the 
house to look for a crew. He was bound to Rotterdam, and 
his ship lay down at the second bar, all ready for sea. After 
some talk, one man signed the articles ; then another, and 
another, and another, until his crew was complete to one 
man. I was now called on to ship, and was ridiculed for 
wishing to turn shad-man. My pride was touched, and I 
agreed to go, leaving my fisherman in the lurch. 

The Hope turned out to be a regular down-east craft, and 

1 had been in so many flyers and crack ships as to be saucy 
enough to laugh at the economical outfit, and staid ways of 
the vessel. I went on board half drunk, and made myself 
conspicuous for such sort of strictures from the first hour. 
The captain treated me mildly, even kindly ; but I stuck to 
my remarks during most of the passage. I was a seaman, 
and did my duty ; but this satisfied me. I had taken a dis- 
gust to the ship ; and though I had never blasphemed since 
the hour of the accident in the way I did the day the Susan 
and Mary was thrown on her beam-ends, I may be said to 
have crossed the Atlantic in the Hope, grumbling and swear- 
ing at the ship. Still, our living and our treatment were 
both good. 

At Rotterdam, we got a little money, with liberty. When 
he last was up I asked for more, and the captain refused it. 
18* 



210 NEJ MYERS; OR, 

This brought on an explosion, and I swore I would quit the 
ship. After a time, the captain consented, as well as he. 
could, leaving my wages on the cabin-table, where I found 
them, and tolling me I should repent of what I was then 
doing. Little did I then think he would prove so true a 
prophet 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

I HAD left the Hope in a fit of the sulks. The vessel 
never pleased me, and yet I can now look back, and ac- 
Knowledge that both her master and her mate were respect- 
able, considerate men, who had my own good in view more* 
than I had myself. There was an American ship, called 
the Plato, in port, and I had half a mind to try my luck in 
her. The master of this vessel was said to be a tartar, 
however, and a set of us had doubts about the expediency 
of trusting ourselves with such a commander. When we 
came to sound around him, we discovered he would have 
nothing to do with us, as he intended to get a crew of regu- 
lar Dutchmen. This ship had just arrived from Batavia, 
and was bound to New York. How he did this legally, or 
whether he did it at all, is more than I know, for I only tell 
what I was told myself, on this subject. 

There was a heavy Dutch Indiaman, then fitting out for 
Java, lying at Rotterdam. The name of this vessel was 
the Stadtdeel— so pronounced ; how spelt, I have no idea — 
and I began to think I would try a voyage in her. As is 
common with those who have great reason to find fault 
with themselves, I was angry with the whole world. I 
began to think myself a sort of outcast, forgetting that I 
had deserted my natural relatives, run from my master, and 
thrown off many friends who were disposed to serve me in 
everything in which I could be served. I have a cheerful 
temperament by nature, and I make no doubt that the som- 
bro view I now began to take of things, was the effects o, 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MH£T. , 211 

drixik. It was necessary for me to get to sea, for there I 
was shut out from all excesses, by discipline and necessity. 

After looking ai'ound us, and debating the matter amcng 
ourselves, a party of five of us shipped in the Stadtdeel. 
What the others contemplated I do not know, but it was 
my intention to double Good Hope, and never to return. 
Chances enough would offer on the other side, to make a 
man comfortable, and I was no stranger o the ways of that 
quarter of the world. I could find enough to do between 
Bombay and Canton ; and, if I could not, there were the 
islands and all of the Pacific before me. I could do 
a seaman's whole duty, was now in tolerable health and 
strength, and knew that such men were always wanted. 
Wherever a ship goes. Jack must go with hei', and ships, 
dollars and hogs, are now to be met with all over the globe. 

The Stadtdeel lay at Dort, and we went to that place to 
join her. She was not ready for sea, and as things moved 
Dutchman fashion, slow and sure, we were about six weeks 
at Dort before she sailed. This ship was a vessel of the 
size of a frigate, and carried twelve guns. She had a crew 
of about forty souls, which was being very short-handed. 
The ship's company was a strange mixture of seamen, 
'.hough most of them came from the north of Europe. 
Among us were Russians, Danes. Swedes, Prussians, Eng- 
lish, Americans, and but a very few Dutch. One of the 
mates, and two of the petty officers, could speak a little 
Enujlish. This made us eight who could converse in that 
language. We had to learn Dutch as well as we could, 
and made out tolerably well. Before the ship sailed, I 
could understand the common orders, without much difficul- 
ty. Indeed, the language is nothing but English a little 
flattened down. 

So bng as we remained at Dort, the treatment on board 
this vessel was well enough. We were never well fed, 
though we got enough food, such as it was. The work 
was hard, and the weather cold ; but these did not frighten 
me. The wages were eight dollars a month ; — I had aban- 
doned eighteen, and an American ship, for this preferment ! 
A. wayward temper had done me this service. 

The Stadtdeel no sooner got into the stream, than there 
was a great change in the treatment. We were put on an 



212 , NEDMYERS;OR, 

allowance of food and water, in sight of our place of depar 
Hire; and the rope's-end began to fly round among the crew 
we five excepted. For some reason, that I cannot explain 
neither of us was ever struck. We got plenty of curses 
in Low Dutch, as we supposed ; and we gave them back, 
with interest, in high English. The expression of our faces 
let Ihe parties into the secret of what was going on. 

It is scarcely necessary to add, that we English and Ame- 
ricans soon repented of the step we had taken. I heartily 
wished myself on board the Hope, again, and the master's 
prophecy became true, much sooner, perhaps, than he had 
himself anticipated. This time, I conceive that my disgust 
was fully justified ; though I deserved the punishment 1 was 
receiving, for entering so blindly into a service every way 
so inferior to that to which I properly belonged. The 
bread in this ship was wholesome, I do suppose, but it was 
nearly black, and such as I was altogether unused to. Infe- 
rior as it was, we got but five pounds, each, per week. In 
our navy, a man gets, per week, seven pounds of such bread 
as might be put on a gentleman's table. The meat was little 
better than the bread in quality, and quite as scant in quan- 
tity. We got one good dish in the Stadtdeel, and that we 
got every morning. It was a dish of boiled barley, of which 
I became very fond, and which, indeed, supplied me with 
the strength necessary for my duty. It was one of the best 
dishes I ever fell in with at sea; and I think it might be intro- 
duced, to advantage, in our service. Good food produces 
good work. 

As all our movements were of the slow and easy order, 
the ship lay three weeks at the Helvoetsluys, waiting for pas- 
sengers. During this time, our party, three EngHsh and 
two Americans, came to a determination to abandon the ship 
Our plan was to seize a boat, as we passed down channel 
and get ashore in England. We were willing to run all th? 
risks of such a step, in preference of going so long a voy 
age under such treatment and food. By this time, our dis- 
content amounted to disgust. 

At length we got all our passengers on board. These 
consisted of a family, of which the head was said to be, or 
to have been, an admiral in the Dutch navy. This gentle- 
man was going to Java to remain ; and he took with hinr. 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 213 

his wife, several children, servants, and a lady, who seemed 
to be a companion to his wife. As soon as this party was 
on board, the wind coming fair, we sailed. The Plato went 
to sea in company with us, and little did I then think, while 
wishing myself on board her, how soon 1 should be thrown 
into this very ship — the last craft in which I ever was at sea. 
I was heaving the lead as we passed her ; our ship, Dutch- 
man or not, having a fleet pair of heels. The Stadtdeel, 
whatever might be her usage, or her food, sailed and worked 
well, and was capitally found in everything that related to 
the safety of the vessel. This was her first voyage, and 
she was said to be the largest ship out of Rotterdam. 

The Stadtdeel must have sailed from Helvoetsluys in May^ 
1839, or about thirty-three years after I sailed from New 
York, on my first voyage, in the Sterling. During all this 
time I had been toiling at sea, like a dog, risking my health 
and life, in a variety of ways ; and this ship, with my station 
on board her, was nearly all I had to show for it ! God be 
praised ! This voyage, which promised so little, in its com- 
mencement, proved, in the end, the most fortunate of any in 
which I embarked. 

There was no opportunity for us to put our plans in exe 
cution, in going down channel. The wind was fair, and it 
blew so fresh, it would not have been easy to get a boat into 
the water ; and we passed the Straits of Dover, by day-light, 
the very day we sailed. The wind held in the same quar- 
ter, until we reached the north-east trades, giving us a quick 
run as low down as the calm latitudes. All this time, the 
treatment was as bad as ever, or, if anything, worse; and 
our discontent increased daily. There were but one or two 
native Hollanders in the forecastle, boys excepted ; but 
among them was a man who had shipped as an ordinary 
seaman. He had been a soldier, I believe ; at all events, he 
had a medal, received in consequence of having been in one 
of the late affairs between his country and Belgium. It is 
probable this man may not have been very expert in a sea- 
man's duty, and it is possible he may have been drinking, 
though to me he appeared sober, at the time the thing oc- 
urred which I am about to relate. One day the captain fell 
foul of him, and beat him with a rope severely. The ladies 
•nterferod, and got the poor fellow out of the scrane ; fho 



214 NED MYERS; OR, 

captain letting him go, and telling him to go forward. As 
the man complied, he fell in with the chief mate, who at- 
tacked him ai'resh, and beat him very severely. The man 
now went below, and was about to turn in, as the captain 
had ordeied, — which renders it probable he had been drink- 
ing, — when the second mate, possibly ignorant of what had 
occurred, missing him from his duty, went below, and beat 
him up on deck again. These different assaults seem to 
have made the poor fellow -desperate. He ran and jumped 
into the sea, just forward of the starboard lower-studding- 
sail-boom. The ship was then in the north-east trades, and 
had eight or nine knots way on her ; notwithstanding, she 
was rounded to, and a boat was lowered — but the man was 
never found. There is something appalling in seeing a fel- 
low-creature driven to such acts of madness ; and the effect 
produced on all of us, by what we witnessed, was profound 
and sombre. 

I shall not pretend to say that this man did not deserve 
chastisement, or that the two mates were not ignorant of 
what had happened ; but brutal treatment was so much in 
use on board this ship, that the occurrence made us five 
nearly desperate. I make no doubt a crew of Americans, 
who were thus treated, would have secured the officers, and 
brought the ship in. It is true, that flogging seems neces- 
sary to some natures, and I will not say that such a crew 
as ours could very well get along without it. But we might 
sometimes be treated as men, and no harm follow. 

As I have said, the loss of this man produced a great 
impression in the ship, generally. The passengers appeared 
much affected by it, and I thought the captain, in particular, 
regretted it greatly. He might not have been in the least to 
blame, for the chastisement he inflicted was such as masters 
of ships often bestow on their men, but the crew felt very 
indignant against the mates ; one of whom was particularly 
obnoxious to us all. As for my party, we now began to 
plot, again, in order to get quit of the ship. After a great 
deal of discussion, we came to the following resolution : 

About a dozen of us entered into the conspiracy. We 
contemplated no piracy, no act of violence, that should not 
bo rendered necessary in self-defence, nor any robbery 
beyond what we conceived indispensable to our object. As 



A LIFE BEFOKE THE MAST. 215 

ihe ship passed the Straits of Sunda, we intended to lower 
as many boats as should be necessary, arm ourselves, place 
provisions and water in the boats, and abandon the ship. 
We felt confident that if most of the men did not go with us, 
they would not oppose us. I can now see that this was a 
desperate and unjustifiable scheme ; but, for myself, I was 
getting desperate on board the ship, and preferred risking 
my life to remaining. I will not deny that I was a ring- 
leader in this affair, though I know I had no other motive 
than escape. This was a clear case of mutiny, and the only 
one in which I was ever implicated. I have a thousand 
times seen reason to rejoice that the attempt was never 
made, since, so deep was the hostility of the crew to the 
officers, — the mates, in particular, — that I feel persuaded a 
horrible scene of bloodshed must have followed. I did not 
think of this at the time, making sure of getting off unre- 
sisted ; but, if we had, what would have been the fate of a 
parcel of seamen who came into an English port in ship's 
boats 1 Tried for piracy, probably, and the execution of 
some, if not all of us. 

The ship had passed the island of St. Pauls, and we were 
impatiently waiting for her entrance into the S' raits of 
Sunda, when an accident occurred that put a sjp to the 
contemplated mutiny, and changed the whole current, as I 
devoutly hope, of all my subsequent life. At t'iO calling of 
the middle watch, one stormy night, the ship being under 
close-reefed topsails at the time, with the mainsail furled, I 
went on deck as usual, to my duty. In stepping across the 
deck, between the launch and the galley, I had to cross 
some spars that were lashed there. Whde on the pile of 
spars, the ship lurched suddenly, and I lost my balance, 
falling my whole length on deck, upon my left side. No- 
thing broke the fall, 'my arms being raised to seize a hold 
above my head, and I came down upon deck with my en- 
tire weight, the hip taking the principal force of the fall. 
The anguish I suffered was acute, and it was some time be- 
fore I would allow my shipmates even to touch me. 

After a time, I was carried down into the steerage, where 
it was found necessary to sling me on a grating, instead of 
a hammock. We had a doctor on board, but he could do 
nothing for me. My clothes could not be taken off, and 



216 NED MYERS; OR, 

tnere I lay wet, and suffering to a degree; that I should find 
difficult to describe, hours and hours. 

I was now really on the stool of repentance. In body, 1 
was perfectly helpless, though my mind seemed more active 
than it had ever been before. I overh§iuled my whole life, 
beginning with the hour when I first got drunk, as a boy, 
on board the Sterling, and underrunning every scrape I have 
mentioned in this sketch of my life, with many of which I 
have not spoken ; and all with a fidelity and truth that 
satisfy me that man can keep no log-book that is as accu- 
rate as his own conscience. I saw that I had been my own 
worst enemy, and how many excellent opportunities of get- 
ting ahead in the world, I had wantonly disregarded. Li- 
quor lay at the root of all my calamities and misconduct, 
enticing me into bad company, undermining my health and 
strength, and blasting my hopes. I tried to pray, but did 
not know how ; and, it appeared to me, as if I were lost, 
body and soul, without a hope of mercy. 

My shipmates visitqd me by stealth, and I pointed out to 
them, as clearly as in my power, the folly, as well as the 
wickedness, of our contemplated mutiny. I told them we 
had come on board the ship voluntarily, and we had no 
right to be judges in our own case ; that we should have 
done a cruel thing in deserting a ship at sea, with women 
and children on board ; that the Malays would probably 
have cut our throats, and the vessel herself would have been 
very apt to be wrecked. Of all this mischief, we should 
have been the fathers, and we had every reason to be 
grateful that our project was defeated. The men listened 
attentively, and promised to abandon every thought of ex- 
ecuting the revolt. They were as good as their words, and 
I heard no more of the matter. 

As for my hurt, it was not easy to say what it was. The 
doctor was kind to me, but he could do no more than give 
me food and little indulgencies. As for the captain, I think 
he was influenced by the mate, who appeared to believe I 
was feigning an injury much greater than I had actually 
received. On board the ship, there was a boy, of good 
parentage, who had been sent out to commence his career 
at sea. He lived aft, and was a sort of genteel cabin-boy 
He could not have been more than ten or eleven years old 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 217 

but he proved to be a ministering angel to me. He brought 
me delicacies, sympathised with me, and many a time did 
we shed tears in company. The ladies and the admiral's 
children sometimes came to see me, too, manifesting much 
sorrow for my situation ; and then it was that my conscience 
pricked the deepest, for the injury, or risks, I had contem- 
plated exposing them to. Altogether, the scenes I saw daily, 
and my own situation, softened my heart, and I began to 
get views of my moral deformity that were of a healthful 
and safe character. 

I lay on that grating two months, and bitter months they 
were to me. The ship had arrived at Batavia, and the cap- 
tain and mate came to see what was to be done with me. 1 
asked to be sent to the hospital, but the mate insisted nothing 
was the matter with me, and asked to have me kept in the 
ship. This was done, and I went round to Terragall in her, 
where we landed our passengers. These last all C3.me and 
took leave of me, the admiral making me a present of a 
good jacket, that he had worn himself at sea, with a quan- 
tity of tobacco. I have got that jacket at this moment. The 
ladies spoke kindly to me, and all this gave my heart fresh 
pangs. 

From Terragall we wont to Sourabaya, where I prevailed 
on the captain to send nje to the hospital, the mate still in- 
sisting I was merely shamming inability to work. The 
surgeons at Sourabaya, one of whom was a Scotchman, 
thought with the mate ; and at the end of twenty days, I was 
again taken on board the ship, which sailed for Samarang. 
While at Sourabaya there were five English sailors in the 
hospital. These men were as forlorn and miserable as my 
self, death grianing in our faces at every turn. The men 
who were brought into the hospital one day, were often dead 
ihe next, and none of us knew whose turn would come next 
"We often talked together, on religious subjects, after our 
own uninstructed manner, and greatly did we long to find 
an English bible, a thing not to be had there. Then it was 
I thought, again, of the sermon I had heard at the Sailors' 
Retreat, of the forfeited promises I had made to reform ; and, 
more than once did it cross my mind, should God permit 
me to return home, that I would seek out that minister, and 
ask his prayers and spirit-nal advice. 
19 



218 NED MYERS; OR, 

On our arrival at Samarang, the mate got a doctor from 
a Dutch frigate, to look at me, who declared nothing ailed 
me. By these means nearly all hands in the ship were 
set against me, but my four companions, and the little boy • 
fancying that I was a skulk, and throwing labour on them. 
1 was ordered on deck, and set to work graffing ring-bolts 
for the guns. Walk I could not,, being obliged, literally, to 
crawl along the deck on my hands and knees. I suffered 
great pain, but got no credit for it. The work was easy 
enough for me, when once seated at it, but it caused me infi- 
nite suffering to move. I was not alone in being thought a 
skulk, however. The doctor himself was taken ill, and the 
mate accused him,^too, very much as he did me, of shirking 
duty. Unfortunately, the poor man gave him the lie, by 
dying. 

I was kept at the sort of duty I have mentioned until the 
ship reached Batavia again. Here a doctor came on board 
from another ship,^ on a visit, and ray case was mentioned. 
The mate ordered me afl, and I crawled upon the quarter- 
deck to be examined. They got me into the cabin, where 
the strange doctor looked at me. This man said I must be 
operated on by a burning process, all of which was said to 
frighten me to duty. After this I got down into the fore- 
castle, and positively refused to do anything more. There 
I lay, abused and neglected by all but ray four friends. I 
told the mate I sufiered too much to work, and that I must 
be put ashore. Suffering had made rae desperate, and I 
cared not for the consequences. 

Fortunately for me, there were two cases of fever and ague 
in the ship. Our own doctor being dead, that of the admiral's 
ship was sent for to visit the sick. The mate seemed 
anxious to get evidence against me, and he asked the admi- 
ral's surgeon to come down and see me. The moment this 
gentleman laid eyes on me, he raised both arms, and ex- 
claimed that they were killing me. He saw, at once, that 
I was no impostor, and stated as much in pretty plain lan- 
guage, so far as I could understand what he said. The 
mate appeared to be struck with shame and contrition ; and 
I do believe that every one on board was sorry for the treat- 
ment I had received. I took occasion to remonstrate with 
he mate, and to tell him of the necessity of my being sen! 



A IjIfe before the mast. 219 

.'mmediately to the hospital. The man promised to repre- 
sent my case to the captain, and the next day I was landed. 

My two great desires were to get to the hospital and to 
procure a bible. I did not expect to live ; one of my legs 
being shrivelled to half its former size, and was apparently 
growing worse ; and could I find repose for my body and 
relief for my soul, I felt that I could be happy. I had heard 
my American ship-mate, who was a New Yorker, a Hudson 
river man, say he had a bible ; but I had never seen it. It 
lay untouched in the bottom of his chest, sailor-fashion. I 
offered this man a shirt for his bible ; but he declined tak- 
ing any pay, cheerfully giving me the book. I forced the 
shirt on him, however, as a sort of memorial of me. Now 
I was provided with the book, I could not read for want of 
spectacles. I had reached a time of life when the sight be- 
gins to fail, and I think my eyes were injured in Florida. 
In Sourayaba hospital I had raised a few rupees by the sale 
of a black silk handkerchief, and wanted now to procure a 
pair of spectacles. I sold a pair of boots, and adding the 
little sum thus raised to that which I had already, I felt my- 
self rich and happy, in the prospect of being able to study 
the word of God. On quitting the ship, everybody, for- 
ward and aft, shook hands with me, the opinion of the man- 
of-war surgeon suddenly changing all their opinions of me 
and my conduct. 

The captain appeared to regret the course things had 
taken, and was willing to do all he could to make me com- 
fortable. My wages were \ei\ in a merchant's hands, and I 
was to receive them could I quit this island, or get out of 
the hospital. I was to be sent to Holland, in the latter case, 
and everything was to be done according to law and right. 
The reader is not to imagine I considered myself a suffering 
saint all this time. On the contrary, while I was thought 
an impostor, I remembered that I had shammed sickness in 
this very island, and, as I entered the hospital, I could not 
forget the circumstances under which I had been its tenant 
fifteen or twenty years before. Then I was in the pride 
of my youth and strength ; and, now, as if in punishment 
for the deception, I was berthed, a miserable cripple, within 
half-a-dozen beds of that on which I was berthed when feign- 
ing an illness I did not really suffer. Under such circum- 



220 NED MYERS; OR, 

stances, conscience is pretty certain to remind a sinner of 
his misdeeds. 

The physician of the hospital put me on very low diet 
and gave me an ointment to " smear" myself with, as he 
called it ; and I was ordered to remain in my berth. By 
means of one of the coolies of the hospital, I got a pair of 
spectacles from the town, and such a pair, as to size ana 
form, that people in America regard what is left of them as 
a curiosity. They served my purpose, however, and enabled 
me to read the precious book 1 had obtained from my north- 
river shipmate. This book was a copy from the American 
Bible Society's printing-office, and if no other of their v.'orks 
did good, this must be taken for an exception. It has since 
been placed in the Society's Library, in memory of the good 
it has done. 

My sole occupation was reading and reflecting. There I 
lay, in a distant island, surrounded by disease, death daily, 
nay hourly making his appearance, among men whose lan- 
guage was mostly unknown to me. It was several weeks 
before I was allowed even to quit my bunk. I had begun 
to pray before I left the ship, and this practice I continued, 
almost hourly, until I was permitted to rise. A converted 
Lascar was in the hospital, and seeing my occupation, he 
came and conversed with me, in his broken English. This 
man gave me a hymn-book, and one of the first hymns I 
rcad in it afforded me great consolation. It was written by 
a man who had been a sailor like myself, and one who had 
been almost as wicked as myself, but who has since done a 
vast deal of good, by means of precept and example. This 
hymn-book I now read in common with my bible. But I 
cannot express the delight I felt at a copy of Pilgrim's Pro- 
gress which this same Lascar gave me. That book I con- 
sider as second only to the bible. It enabled me to under- 
stand and to apply a vast deal that I found in the word of 
God, and set before my eyes so many motives for hope, that 
I began to feel Christ had died for me, as well as for the rest 
of the species. I thought if the thief on the cross could be 
saved, even one as wicked as I had been had only to repent 
and believe, to share in the Redeemer's mercy. All this 
time I fairly pined for religious instruction, and my thoughts 
would constantly recur to the sermon I had heard at the 



.1 LIFB BEFORE THE MAST. 221 

Sailor's Retreat, and to the clergyman who had preach- 
ed it. 

There was an American carpenter in the Fever Hospital, 
who, hearing of my state, gave me some tracts that he had 
brought from home with him. This man was not pious, 
but circumstances had made him serious ; and, being about 
to quit the place, he was willing to administer to my wants 
He told me there were several Englishmen and one Ameri 
can in his hospital, who wanted religious consolation greatly, 
and he advised me to crawl over and see them ; which I did, 
as soon as it was in my power. 

At first, I thought myself too wicked to offer to pray and 
converse with these men, but my conscience would not let 
me rest until I did so. It appeared to me as if the bible had 
been placed in my way, as much for their use as my own, 
and I could not rest until I had offered them all the consola- 
tion it was in my power to bestow. I read with these men 
for two or three weeks; Chapman, the American, being the 
man who considered his own moral condition the most hope- 
less. When unable to go myself, I would send my books, 
and we had the bible and Pilgrim's Progress, watch and 
watch, between us. 

All this time we were living, as it might be, on a bloody 
battle-field. Men died in scores around us, and at the shortest 
notice. Batavia, at that season, was the most sickly ; and, 
although the town was by no means as dangerous then as 
it had been in my former visit, it was still a sort of Gol- 
gotha, or place of skulls. More than half who entered the 
Fever Hospital, left it only as corpses. 

Among my English associates, as I call them, was a 
young Scotchman, of about five-and-twenty. This man 
had been present at most of our readings and conversations, 
though he did not appear to me as much impressed with the 
importance of caring for his soul, as some of the others. 
One day he came to take leave of me. He was to quit the 
hospital the following morning. I spoke to him concerning 
his future life, and endeavoured to awaken in him some feel- 
ings that might be permanent. He listened with proper 
respect, but his answers were painfully inconsiderate, though 
I do believe he reasoned as nine in ten of mankind reason, 
when they think at all on such subjects. " What's the use 
19* 



/ 



222 NED MYflRS; OR, 

of my giving up so soon," he said ; " I am young, and 
strong, and in good health, and have plenty of sea-room to 
leeward of me, and can fetch up when there is occasion for 
it. If a fellow don't live while he can, he '11 never live." I 
read to him the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, but 
lie left me holding the same opinion, to the last. 

Directly in front of my ward was the dead-house Thither 
all the bodies of those v/ho died in the hospital were regu- 
larly carried for dissection. Scarcely one escaped being 
subjected to the knife. This dead-house stood some eighty, 
or a hundred, yards from the hospital, and between them 
was an area, containing a few large trees. I was in the 
habit, after I got well enough to go out, to hobble to one of 
these trees, where I would sit for hours, reading and. medi- 
tating. It was a good place to make a man reflect on the 
insignificance of worldly things, disease and death being all 
around him. I frequently saw six or eight bodies carried 
across this area, while sitting in it, and many were taken 
to the dead-house, at night. Hundreds, if not thousands, 
were in the hospital, and a large proportion died. 

The morning of the day but one, after I had taken leave 
of the young Scotchman, I was sitting under a tree, as 
usual, when I saw some coolies carrying a dead body across 
the area. They passed quite near me, and one of the coolies 
gave me to understand it was that of this very youth I He 
had been seized with the fever, a short time after he left me, 
and here was a sudden termination to all his plans of enjoy- 
ment and his hopes of life ; his schemes of future repentance. 

Such things are of frequent occurrence in that island, but 
this event made a very deep impression on me. It helped 
to strengthen me in my own resolutions, and I used it, I 
hope, with effect, with my companions whose lives were 
still spared. * 

All the Englishmen got well, and were discharged. Chap- 
man, the American, however, remained, being exceedingly 
feeble with the disease of the country. With this poor 
young man, I prayed, as well as I knew how, and read, 
daily, to his great comfort and consolation, I believe. The 
reader may imagine how one dying in a strange land, sur. 
rounded by idolaters, would lean on a single countryman 
>.ho was disposed to aid him. In this manner did Chap 



A LIFE BETORE THE MAST. 223 

man lean on me, and all my efforts were to induce him to 
lean on the Saviour. He thought he had been too great a 
sinner to be entitled to any hope, and my great task was to 
overcome in him some of those stings of conscience which 
it had taken the grace of God to allay in myself. One day, 
the last time I was with him, I read the narrative of the 
thief on the cross. He listened to it eagerly, and when I 
had ended, for the first time, he displayed some signs of 
hope and joy. As I left him, he took leave of me, saying 
we should never meet again. He asked my prayers, and I 
promised them. I went to my own ward, and, while ac- 
tually engaged in redeeming my promise, one came to tell 
me he had gone. He sent me a message, to say he died a 
happy man. The poor fellow — happy fellow, would be a 
better term — sent back all the books he had borrowed ; and 
it will serve to give some idea of the condition we were in, 
in a temporal sense, if i add, that he also sent me a few 
coppers, in order that they might contribute to the comfort 
of his countrymen. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

About three months after the death of Chapman, I was 
well enough to quit the hospital. I could walk, with the aid 
of crutches, but had no hope of ever being a sound man 
again. Of course, I had an anxious desire to get home ; 
for all my resolutions, misanthropical feelings, and resent- 
ments, had vanished in the moral change I had undergone. 
My health, as a whole, was now good. Temperance, absti- 
nence, and a happy frame of mind, had proved excellent 
doctors ; and, although I had not, and never shall, altogether, 
"ecover from the effects of my fall, I had quite done with 
the " horrors." The last fit of them I suffered was in the 
deep conviction I felt concerning my sinful state. I knew 
nothing of Temperance Societies — had never heard that 
such things existed, or, if I had, forgot it as soon as heard ; 
and yet, unknown to myself, had joined the most effectivft 
19** 



234 NED MVERS; OR, 

and most permanent of all these bodies. Since my fall, I 
have not tasted spirituous liquors, except as medicine, and 
in very small quantities, nor do I now feel the least desire 
to drink. By the grace of God, the great curse of my life 
has been removed, and I have lived a perfectly sober man 
for the last five years. I look upon liquor as one of the 
great agents of the devil in destroying souls, and turn from 
it, almost as sensitively as I could wish to turn from sin. 

I wrote to the merchant who held my wages, on the sub- 
ject of quitting the hospital, but got no answer. I then 
resolved to go to Batavia myself, and took my discharge 
from the hospital, accordingly. I can truly say, I left that 
place, into which I had entered a miserable, heart-broken 
cripple, a happy man. Still, I had nothing ; not even the 
means of seeking a livelihood. But I was lightened of the 
heaviest of all my burthens, and felt I could go through the 
world rejoicing, though, literally, moving on crutches. 

The hospital is seven miles from the town, and I went 
this distance in a canal-boat, Dutch fashion. Many of these 
canals exist in Java, and they have had the effect to make 
the island much more healthy, by draining the marshes. 
They told me, the canal I was on ran fifty miles into the 
interior. The work was done by the natives, but under the 
direction of their masters, the Dutch. 

On reaching the town, I hobbled up to the merchant, 
•who gave me a very indifferent reception. He said I had 
cost too much already, but that I must return to the hospi- 
tal, until an opportunity offered for sending me to Holland. 
This I declined doing. Return to the hospital I would not, 
as I knew it could do no good, and my wish was to get back 
to America. I then went to the American consul, who 
treated me kindly. I was told, however, he could do nothing 
for me, as I had come out in a Dutch ship, unless I relin- 
quished all claims to my wages, and all claims on the Dutch 
laws. My wages were a trifle, and I had no difficulty in 
relinquishing them, and as for. claims, I wished to present 
none on the laws of Holland. 

The consul then saw the Dutch merchant, and the mat- 
ter was arranged between them. The Plato, the very ship 
that left Helvoetsluys in company with us, was then at Bata- 
via, taking in cargo for Bremenhaven. She had a new cap 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MA*ST. 225 

.ain, and he consented to receive me as a consul's man. 
This matter was all settled the day I reached the town, and 
I was to go on board the ship in the morning. 

I said nothing to the consul about money, but left his 
office with the expectation of getting some from the Dutch 
merchant. I had tasted no food that day, and, on reaching 
the merchant's, I found him on the point of going into the 
country ; no one sleeping in the town at that season, who 
could help it. He took no notice of me, and I got no as- 
sistance ; perhaps I was legally entitled to none. I now sat 
down on some boxes, and thought I would remain at that 
spot until morning. Sleeping in the open air, on an empty 
stomach, in that town, and at that season, would probably 
have proved my death, had I been so fortunate as to escape 
being murdered by the Malays for the clothes I had on. 
Providence took care of me. One of the clerks, a Portu- 
guese, took pity on me, and led me to a house occupied by 
a negro, who had been converted to Christianity. We met 
with a good deal of difficulty in finding admission. The 
black said the English and Americans were so wicked he 
was afraid of them ; but, finding by my discourse that I 
was not one of the Christian heathen, he altered his tone, 
and nothing was then too good for me. I was fed, and he 
sent for my chest, receiving with it a bed and three blankets, 
as a present from the charitable clerk. Thus were my pros- 
pects for that night suddenly changed for the better 1 I could 
only thank God, in my inmost heart, for all his mercies. 

The old black, who was a man of some means, was also 
about to quit the town ; but, before he went, he inquired if 
I had a bible. I told him yes ; still, he would not rest un- 
til he had pressed upon me a large bible, in English, which 
language he spoke very well. This book had prayers for 
seamen bound up with it. It was, in fact, a sort of Eng- 
lish prayer-book, as well as bible. This I accepted, and 
have now with me. As soon as the old man went away, 
leaving his son behind him for the moment, I began to read 
in my Pilgrim's Progress. The young man expressed a 
desire to examine the book, understanding English perfectly. 
After reading in it for a short time, he earnestly begged the 
book, telling me he had two sisters, who would be infinitely 
pleased to possess it. I could not refuse him, and he nro 



226 NEDMYERS;OR, 

mised to send another book in its place, which 1 should find 
equally good. He thus left me, taking the Pilgrim's Pro- 
gress with him. Half an hour later a servant brought me 
the promised book, which proved to be Doddridge's Rise and 
Progress. On looking through the pages, I found a Mexi- 
can dollar wafered between two of the leaves. All this I 
regarded as providential, and as a proof that the Lord would 
not desert me. My gratitude, I hope, was in proportion. 
This whole household appeared to be religious, for I passed 
half the night in conversing with the Malay servants, on 
the subject of Christianity ; concerning which they had 
already received many just ideas. I knew that my teach- 
ing was like the blind instructing the blind ; but it had the 
merit of coming from God, though in a degree suited to my 
humble claims on his grace. 

In the morning, these Malays gave me breakfast, and 
then carried my chest and other articles to the Plato's boat. 
I was happy enough to find myself, once more, under the 
stars and stripes, where I was well received, and humanely 
treated. The ship sailed for Bremen about twenty days 
after I got on board her. 

Of course, I could do but little on the passage. Whenever 
I moved along the deck, it was by crawling, though I could 
work with the needle and palm. A fortnight out, the car- 
penter, a New York man, died. I tried to read and pray 
with him, but cannot say that he showed any consciousness 
of his true situation. We touched at St. Helena for water, 
and. Napoleon being then dead, had no difficulty in getting 
ashore. After watering we sailed again, and reached our 
port in due time. 

I was now in Europe, a part of the world that I had little 
hopes of seeing ten months before. Still it was my desire 
to get to America, and I was permitted to remain in the ship. 
I was treated in the kindest manner by captain Bunting, and 
Mr. Bowden, the mate, who gave me everything I needed. 
At the end of a few weeks we sailed agairt, for New York, 
where we arrived in the month of August, 1840. 

I left the Plato at the quarantine ground, going to the 
Sailor's Retreat. Here the physician told me I never could 
recover the use of my limb as I had possessed it before, but 
that the leg would gradually grow stronger, and that I mighl 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 227 

get along without crutches in the end. All this has turned 
out to be true. The pain had long before left me, weakness 
being now the great difficulty. The hip-joint is injured, and 
this in a way that still compels me to rely greatly on a stick 
in walking. 

At the Sailor's Retreat, I again met Mr. Miller. I now, 
for the first time, received regular spiritual advice, and it 
proved to be of great benefit to me. After remaining a 
month at the Retreat, I determined to make an application 
for admission to the Sailor's Snug Harbour, a richly endow- 
ed asylum for seamen, on the same island. In order to be 
admitted, it was necessary to have sailed under the flag five 
years, and to get a character. I had sailed, with two short 
exceptions, thirty-four years under the flag, and I do believe 
in all that time, the nineteen months of imprisonment ex- 
cluded, I had not been two years unattached to a ship. I 
think I must have passed at least a quarter of a century out 
of sight of land.* 

I now went up to New York, and hunted up captain Pell, 
with whom I had sailed in the Sully and in the Normandy. 
This gentleman gave me a certificate, and, as I left him, 
handed me a dollar. This was every cent I had on earth. 
Next, I found captain Witheroudt, of the Silvie de Grasse 
who treated me in precisely the same way. I told him I 
had one dollar already, but he insisted it should be tico. 
With these two dollars in my pocket, I was passing up Wall 
street, when, in looking about me, I saw the pension office. 
The reader will remember that I left Washington with the 
intention of finding Lemuel Bryant, in order to obtain his 

* I find, in looking over his papers and accounts, that Ned, exclu- 
sively of all the prison-ships, transports, and vessels in which he made 
passages, has belonged, regularly to seventy -two different crafts ! In 
some of these vessels he made many voyages. In the Sterling, he 
made several passages with the writer ; besides four European voyages, 
at a later day. He^ made four voyages to Havre in the Erie, which 
counts as only one vessel, in the above list. He was three voyages to 
London, in the Washington, &c. &c. &c. ; and often made two voy- 
ages in the same ship. I am of opinion that Ned's calculation of his 
having been twenty-five years out of sight of land is very probably 
true. He must have sailed, in all ways, in near a hundred different 
creft— Editor. 



228 NED MYERS; OR, 

certificate, that I might get a pension for the injury received 
on board the Scourge. With this project, I had connected 
a plan of returning to Boston, and of getting some employ 
ment in the Navy Yard. My pension-ticket had, in conse- 
quence, been made payable at Boston. My arrival at New 
York, and the shadding expedition, had upset all this plan ; 
and before I v^^ent to Savannah, I had carried my pension- 
ticket to the agent in this Wall street office, and requested 
him to get another, made payable in New York. This was 
the last I had seen of my ticket, and almost the last I had 
f,hought of my pension. But, I now crossed the street, went 
into the office, and was recognised immediately. Every- 
thing was in rule, and I came out of the office with fifty-six 
dollars in my pockets I I had no thought of this pension, 
at all, in coming up to town. It was so much money show- 
ered down upon me, unexpectedly. 

For a man of my habits, who kept clear of drink, I was 
now rich. Instead of remaining in town, however, I went 
immediately down to the Harbour, and presented myself to 
its respectable superintendant, the venerable Captain Whet- 
ten.* I was received into the institution without any diffi- 
culty, and have belonged to it ever since. My entrance at 
Sailors' Snug Harbour took place Sept. 17, 1840 ; just one 
month after I landed at Sailors' Retreat. The last of these 
places is a seamen's hospital, where men are taken in only 
to be cured ; while the first is an asylum for worn-out mari- 
ners, for life. The last is supported by a bequest made, 
many years ago, by an old ship-master, whose remains lie 
in front of the building. 

Knowing myself now to be berthed for the rest of my 
days, should I be so inclined, and should I remain worthy 
to receive the benefits of so excellent an institution, I began 
to look about me, like a man who had settled down in the 
world. One of my first, cares, was to acquit myself of the 
duty of publicly joining some church of Christ, and thus 
acknowledge my dependence on his redemption and mercy. 
Mr. Miller, he whose sermons had made so deep an impres- 
sion on my mind, was living within a mile and a half of the 
Harbour, and to him I turned in my need. I was an Epia 

* Pronounced, Wheaton.— Editor. 



A LIFE BEFORE THE MAST. 220 

eopalian by infant baptism, and I am still as much attached 
to that form of worship, as to any other ; but sects have little 
weight with me, the heart being the main-stay, under God's 
grace. Two of us, then, joined Mr. Miller's church ; and I 
have ever since continued one of his communicants. I have 
not altogether deserted the communion in which I was bap- 
tized ; occasionally communing in the church of Mr. Moore. 
To me, there is no difference ; though I suppose more learned 
Christians may find materials for a quarrel, in the distinc- 
tions which exist between these two churches. I hope never 
to quarrel with either. 

To my surprise, sometime after I was received into the 
Harbour, I ascertained that my sister had removed to New 
York, and was then living in the place. I felt it, now, to 
he a duty to hunt her up, and see her. This I did ; and we 
met, again, after a separation of five-and-twenty years. She 
could tell me very little of my family ; but I now learned, for 
the first time, that my father had been killed in battle. 
"Who, or what he was, I have not been able to ascertain, 
beyond the facts already stated in the opening of the memoir. 

I had ever retained a kind recollection of the treatment 
of Captain 'Johnston, and accident threw into my way some 
information concerning him. The superintendant had put 
me in charge of the library of the institution ; and, one day, 
I overheard some visiters talking of Wiscasset. Upon this, 
I ventured to inquire after my old master, and was glad to 
learn that he was not only living, but in good health and 
circumstances. To my surprise I was told that a nephew 
of his was actually living within a mile of me. In Septem- 
ber, 1842, I went to Wiscasset, to visit Captain Johnston, 
and found myself received like the repentant prodigal. The 
old gentleman, and his sisters, seemed glad to see me ; and, 
I found that the forhier had left the seas, though he still 
remained a ship-owner ; having a stout vessel of five hun- 
dred tons, which is, at this moment, named after our old 
craft, the Sterling. 

I remained at Wiscasset several weeks. During this 
time, Captain Johnston and myself talked over old times, as 
a matter of course, and I told him I thought one of our 
old shipmates was still living. On his asking whom, I in- 
quired if he remembered the youngster, of the name of 



230 NED MYERS; OR, 

Cooper, who had been in the Sterling. He answered, per 
fectly well, and that he supposed him to be the Captain 
Cooper who was then in the navy. I had thought so, too, 
for a long time ; but happened to be on board the Hudson, 
at New York, when a Captain Cooper visited her. Hearing 
his name, I went on deck expressly to see him, and was 
soon satisfied it was not my old ship-mate. There are two 
Captains Cooper in the navy, — father and son, — but neither 
had been in the Sterling. Now, the author of many naval 
tales, and of the Naval History, was from Cooperstown, 
New York ; and I had taken it into my head this was the 
very person who had been with us in the Sterling. Captain 
Johnston thought not ; but I determined to ascertain the 
fact, immediately on my return to New York. 

Quitting Wiscasset, I came back to the Harbour, in the 
month of November, 1842. I ought to say, that the men 
at this institution, who maintain good characters, can always 
get leave to go where they please, returning whenever they 
please. There is no more restraint than is necessary to 
comfort and good order ; the object being to make old tars 
comfortable. Soon after my return to the Harbour, I wrote 
a letter to Mr. Fenimore Cooper, and sent it to his residence, 
at Cooperstown, making the inquiries necessary to know if 
he were the person of the same family who had been in the 
Sterling. I got an answer, beginning in these words — " I 
am your old ship-mate, Ned." Mr. Cooper informed me 
when he would be in town, and where he lodged. 

In the spring, I got a message from Mr. Blancard, the 
keeper of the Globe Hotel, and the keeper, also, of Brighton, 
near the Harbour, to say that Mr. Cooper was in town, and 
wished to see me. Next day, 1 went up, accordingly ; but 
did not find him in- After paying one or two visits, I was 
hobbling up Broadway, to go to the Globe again, when my 
old commander at Pensacoia, Commodore Bolton, passed 
down street, arm-in-arm with a stranger I saluted the com- 
modore, who nodded his head to me, and this induced the 
stranger to look round. Presently I heard " Ned 1" in a 
voice that I knew immediately, though I had not heard it in 
thirty-seven years. It was my old ship-mate — the gentleman 
who has written out this account of my career, from my 
verbal narrative of the facts. 



A LITB BEFORE TH£ MAST. 281 

Mr. Cooper asked me to go up ^o his place, in the coun- 
try, and pass a few weeks there. I cheerfully consented, 
and we reached Cooperstown early in June. Here 1 Ibund 
a neat village, a beautiful lake, nine miles long, and, alto- 
gether, a beautiful country. I had never been as far from 
the sea before, the time when I served on Lake Ontario 
excepted. Cooperstown lies in a valley, but Mr. Cooper 
tells me it is at an elevation of twelve hundred feet above 
tide-water. To me, the clouds appeared so low, I thought 
I could almost shake hands with them ; and, altogether, the 
air and country were different from any I had ever seen, or 
breathed, before. 

My old shipmate took me often on the Lake, which I will 
say is a slippery place to navigate. I thought I had seen 
all sorts of winds before I saw the Otsego, but, on this lake 
it sometimes blew two or three different ways at the same 
time. While knocking about this piece of water, in a good 
stout boat, I related to my old shipmate many of the inci- 
dents of my wandering life, until, one day, he suggested it 
might prove interesting to publish them. I was willing, 
could the work be made useful to my brother sailors, and 
those who might be thrown into the way of temptations like 
those which came so near wrecking all my hopes, both for 
this world, and that which is to come. We accordingly 
went to work between us, and the result is now laid before 
the world. I wish it understood, that this is literally my 
own story, logged by my old shipmate. 

It is now time to clew up. When a man has told all he 
has to say, the sooner he is silent the better. Every word 
that has been related, I believe to be true ; when I am 
wrong, it proceeds from ignorance, or want of memory. I 
may possibly have made some trifling mistakes about dates, 
and periods, but I think they would turn out to be few, on 
inquiry. In many instances I have given my impressions, 
which, like those of other men, may be right, or may be 
wrong. As for the main facts, however, I know them to 
be true, nor do I think myself much out ©f the way, in any 
of the details. 

This is the happiest period of my life, and has been so 
since I left the hospital at Batavia. I do not know that I 
nave ever passed a happier summer than the present had 



233 NED MYERS. 

been. I should be perfectly satisfied with everything, (fe^ Ja- 
not my time hang so idle on my hands at the Harbour. 1 
want something to occupy my leisure moments, and do not 
despair of yet being able tc find a mode of life more suitable 
to the activity of nry early days. I have friends enough — ■ 
more than J. deserve — and, yet, a man needs occupation, 
vvlio has the .strength and disposition to be employed. That 
which is to happen is in the hands of Providence, and I 
humbly trust 1 shall be cared for, to the end,,as I have been 
cared for, through so many scenes of danger and trial. 

My great wish is that this picture of a sailor's risks and 
hardships, may have some effect in causing this large and use- 
ful class of men to think on the subject of their habits. I en- 
tertain no doubt that the money I have disposed of far worse 
than if I had thrown it into the sea, which went to reduce 
me to that mental hell, the ' horrors,' and which, on one 
occasion, at least, drove me to the verge of suicide, would 
have formed a sum, had it been properly laid by, on which 
I might now have been enjoying an old age of comfort and 
respectability. It is seldom that a seaman cannot lay by a 
hundred dollars in a twelvemonth — oftentimes I have earned 
double that amount, beyond my useful outlays — and a hun- 
dred dollars a year, at the end of thirty years, would give 
such a man an independence for the rest of his days. This 
is far from all, however ; the possession of means would 
awaken the desire of advancement in the calling, and thou- 
sands, who now remain before the mast, would long since 
have been officers, could they have commanded the self- 
respect that property is apt to create. 

On the subject of liquor, I can say nothing that has not 
oflen been said by others, in language far better than I can 
use. I do not think I was as bad, in this respect, as per- 
haps a majority of my associates ; yet, this narrative will 
show how often the habit of drinking to excess impeded my 
advance. It was fast converting me into a being inferior to 
a man, and, but for God's mercy, might have rendered me 
the perpetrator of crimes that it would shock me to think 
of, in my sober and sane moments. 

The past, I have related as faithfully as I have been able 
so to do. The future is with God ; to whom belongeth pow 
cr, and glory, for ever and ever ! 

THE END. ^p 









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